Pander Alert: Hillary Clinton Loves The Gas Tax

Hillary Clinton, in a shameless pander, is trying to convince the voters in Indiana and North Carolina that her proposal to suspend the federal gas tax is good for them. It is not. It is good for the oil companies.

Back in 2000, when Hillary Clinton was running for Senate as an actual Democrat she strongly supported the gas tax. In the October 2000 debate against Rick Lazio, Hillary Clinton said the following in response to a question from the moderator:

KRAMER — O.K., Mrs. Clinton, recently a number of proposals have been put forth to build a large domed stadium on the West Side of Manhattan. Do you think that taxpayer money should be used to build such a stadium?

CLINTON — Well, with all due respect to Mayor Giuliani, who’s sitting in the front row, the answer is no, I don’t. I love sports and I love the opportunity for people to go to sports, but I don’t think that’s a good use of that space and place or of taxpayer dollars.

I think there is a lot of work that we need to do to upgrade the infrastructure of New York. That’s why I support the Second Avenue subway. That’s why I support the East Side connector, why I would support a rail link to La Guardia and to J.F.K. There is work we need to do to repair our bridges and our roads to make sure that we’re prepared for the 21st century. I’ve worked very hard to educate myself about all the infrastructure needs that are required around the state of New York, because I think we have to follow in Senator Moynihan’s footsteps in saying that we need to have public buildings and public works that really reflect the greatness of New York. I will go to the Senate to continue the work on Penn Station and others that Senator Moynihan has started. And one of my fundamental disagreements during this campaign with my opponent was when he called for the repeal of the gas tax. Now, the gas tax is one of those few taxes that New York actually gets more money from Washington than we send. And we are totally reliant on it to do things like finishing I-86 in the Southern Tier, or the fast- ferry harbor works up in Rochester, as well as the work we need to do here in the city. So you can count on me to support infrastructure, but I’m sorry, Mayor, I can’t go with the domed stadium. [Emphasis added by me]

In response, Rick Lazio, the Republican supporting the oil companies said the following:

LAZIO — Yeah, first of all, let me say this: I think it’s important that New York gets the Jets and the Giants back here. I think it’s important that we have a focal point where we build economic development. And this is not just a plan for a stadium, it’s also a plan for expansion of convention space, which is very important. I think private money needs to be on the line here as well, though. I don’t think this should be funded with public money entirely. But I believe that this is an important development, an important initiative to try and build jobs, more jobs for New York.

I should note, and I think my opponent knows this, that when I did call for the repeal of the gas tax, and I know she loves the gas tax, but let me say this: we would not take one dime from the trust fund. We made that clear when we had the proposal. I voted against the gas tax back in —- [Emphasis added by me.]

Back in 2000 Hillary Clinton was for the consumer against the oil companies. Today in Indiana and North Carolina she has sided with the oil companies against the consumer, but is trying to convince the voters that she is looking out for their interests. Hillary Clinton has flip-flopped to pander to the voters.

She is trying to convince the voters that she is giving them a tax cut. No such thing. The gas tax is not a tax on the consumer. The gas tax is a tax on the oil companies at production, and the oil companies pass the cost forward to the consumers. A gas tax holiday is a tax cut for the oil companies and not the consumer – Hillary Clinton knows this and that is why in 2000 she was for the gas tax. The gas tax on oil companies is also essential to support the nation’s highway infrastructure. Now in 2008, desperate to pander to voters, she has completely reversed herself.