[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 44 (Monday, April 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2449-S2450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GAS TAX CONSIDERATION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we were able to work our way through the 
budget this past week. It took a lot of time and cooperation, but I 
think we were able to make a lot of headway. We are disappointed that a 
number of our amendments were not adopted.
  The good news--and I think we should focus on this a little bit this 
morning--is the fact that gas prices are actually declining, on an 
average of almost 3 cents a gallon this past week. There is a long way 
to go to decline to where they first started picking up, but progress 
has been made.
  With the vote on the gas tax bill coming up this week, I think we 
should recognize that the crisis we did see is certainly being 
diminished, if not alleviated. No one is happy about the cost of a 
gallon of gasoline. I stopped over the weekend with my daughter, and 
she filled up their vehicle's gas tank and commented about the price of 
gasoline. That is the way it is. Gas is too high. However, what we are 
attempting to do this week is something we should reexamine. We should 
recognize that if this bill is passed by the Senate, it will either be 
held at the desk indefinitely or would be what we call blue slipped, if 
it is sent to the House of Representatives.
  We should focus on things other than this legislation. For example, 
if the majority is serious about this matter, we could call up H.R. 
3081, the House-passed tax bill which concerns the minimum wage. That 
is on the Senate Calendar. We could work on that. That would allow 
other amendments to be offered that are meaningful.
  There isn't anyone in this body who does not want to see a decrease 
in the cost of fuel prices. Simply stated, this is not the way to go 
about it. OPEC has signaled its willingness to produce more oil. Non-
OPEC nations have agreed to contribute some 700,000 barrels a day to 
alleviate this crisis.
  We would be better off focusing on doing things so we are not as 
dependent on foreign oil. We have to import 55 percent of the oil we 
consume in this country. For example, we need to do something to make 
sure that the oil that is produced in Alaska is used in the United 
States and not shipped to Asia. We have to do something to make sure we 
develop a long-term energy policy and do something with alternative 
fuels. Solar, wind, and geothermal are areas we need to explore. We 
have spent very small amounts of money each year on hydrogen fuel 
development; this, some day, will overtake the fossil fuels that we 
use.
  There are a lot of things we need to do. One of the things we need 
not do is try to explain to the American public that we are doing 
something by reducing the 4.3-cent-a-gallon tax for part of this year. 
No. 1, in a number of States, if the Federal tax is knocked off, the 
States are obligated by law to pick up that extra 4.3 cents, or 
whatever it is, that the Federal Government knocks off.
  In short, I think we could be using this time in a much more 
productive fashion than debating the 4.3-cent-per gallon tax reduction 
which is cosmetic in nature only and is certainly not even a short-term 
fix.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.

[[Page S2450]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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