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Friday, June 20, 2008
Matt Purple :: Townhall.com Columnist
Truckers Call for Gas Tax Holiday, Question Global Warming Legislation
by Matt Purple
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Truckers in Albany protested at the New York Capitol amidst concerns their industry would be hit hard by skyrocketing fuel prices and climate change legislation.

About 100 truckers attended the demonstration, where they paraded big rigs past the Capitol building and blasted their horns.

They’re specifically directing their anger at Democrat-controlled State Assembly for refusing a vote on a proposed gas tax holiday bill to suspend New York’s fuel tax through Labor Day. The truckers even invited Democratic Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno for a ride on one of their big rigs to lobby him.

Those truckers have reason to worry about fuel prices. New Yorkers already some of the highest gas taxes in the nation. As of 2005, New York had the highest fuel taxes, with combined state and federal taxes, totaled 62.9 cents per gallon.

New York Governor David Paterson met with the truckers during their protest to tell them he would support a gas tax holiday if the oil companies would make a commitment not to profit from the holiday. The Republican-controlled State Senate has already passed the legislation, with no language pertaining to profiteering.

While New York truckers are advocating a state gas tax holiday, the trucking industry is fearful of climate change legislation currently being considered by the feds.

“The trucking industry is extremely sensitive to how climate change legislation may further escalate fuel prices,” said Randy Mullett, a vice president at American Trucking Association in a statement. “ATA is urging Congress to carefully evaluate fuel price impacts that result from climate change legislation.”

The bill in question, titled the Climate Matters Act, would regulate greenhouse gas emissions by forcing companies to buy and trade shares in order to pollute. It was introduced on Tuesday and is scheduled for a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee next week.

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About The Author
Matt Purple is an editorial intern with Townhall.com and is studying politics at Catholic University.
My name is ........
Barack Hubert Obama and I approve my name.

DerKrieger
"Subject: 62.9 cents a gallon?
Now just who is it that's profiteering?

Sanctimonious a-hats. They demonize the oil companies for making "excessive" profits yet the government fetches far more revenue from a gallon than the oil companies do and the government doesn't do a damn thing to earn it!"

They build and maintain roads, don't they? Also, government spends money as if they actually have it, both here in America and on the war in Iraq. I don't get this argument that government collects too much money when we're running the deficits we are.

I'm all in favor of reducing government. Hopefully we'll do that. Unfortunately, neither party wishes to do that. They'd rather borrow and spend.

Want to reduce spending? Vote for it! Check out http://www.bobbarr2008.com .
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