Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks
Under proposal, every U.S. taxpayer would get one
From Dana Bash
CNN
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Posted: 5:44 a.m. EDT (09:44 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/27/gas.rebate/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate
check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an
amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks
Under proposal, every U.S. taxpayer would get one
From Dana Bash
CNN
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Posted: 5:44 a.m. EDT (09:44 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/27/gas.rebate/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate
check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an
amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it
also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most
Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Democrats are also expected to offer their own competing proposal, as
members of both parties jockey for political position on the gas price
issue.

The energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted
Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of
Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending
measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane
relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.

Under Senate rules, either the GOP amendment or the Democratic
alternative would probably need 60 votes to pass, which is considered
unlikely. However, the amendments would give senators a change to cast
votes on measures designed to help constituents being hit by high gas
prices.

As outlined by the senior GOP leadership aide, the energy package
would give taxpayers a $100 rebate, repeal tax incentives for oil
companies and allow the Federal Trade Commission to prosecute
retailers unlawfully inflating the price of gasoline.

The measure would also give the Transportation Department authority to
issue fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles, expand tax
incentives for the use of hybrid vehicles and push for more research
into alternative fuels and expansion of existing oil refineries.

The GOP senators are also calling on the Bush administration to
suspend deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for six months
to increase the nation's oil supply. President Bush announced Tuesday
that he would halt new deposits into the reserve until after the
summer driving season. (Full story)

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats on Wednesday called for a
new energy bill and federal legislation to punish price gougers.

"There's no reason why we can't put forth a real energy policy that
addresses the needs of this nation," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a member
of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "from gouging to market
manipulation to biofuels. We can do it." (Full story)

Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks
Under proposal, every U.S. taxpayer would get one
From Dana Bash
CNN
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Posted: 5:44 a.m. EDT (09:44 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/27/gas.rebate/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate
check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an
amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it
also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most
Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Democrats are also expected to offer their own competing proposal, as
members of both parties jockey for political position on the gas price
issue.

The energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted
Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of
Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending
measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane
relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.

Under Senate rules, either the GOP amendment or the Democratic
alternative would probably need 60 votes to pass, which is considered
unlikely. However, the amendments would give senators a change to cast
votes on measures designed to help constituents being hit by high gas
prices.

As outlined by the senior GOP leadership aide, the energy package
would give taxpayers a $100 rebate, repeal tax incentives for oil
companies and allow the Federal Trade Commission to prosecute
retailers unlawfully inflating the price of gasoline.

The measure would also give the Transportation Department authority to
issue fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles, expand tax
incentives for the use of hybrid vehicles and push for more research
into alternative fuels and expansion of existing oil refineries.

The GOP senators are also calling on the Bush administration to
suspend deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for six months
to increase the nation's oil supply. President Bush announced Tuesday
that he would halt new deposits into the reserve until after the
summer driving season. (Full story)

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats on Wednesday called for a
new energy bill and federal legislation to punish price gougers.

"There's no reason why we can't put forth a real energy policy that
addresses the needs of this nation," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a member
of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "from gouging to market
manipulation to biofuels. We can do it." (Full story)

And leaders of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday asked the
Internal Revenue Service to let them examine the tax returns of the
nation's 15 largest oil and gas companies, as part of a "comprehensive
review" of oil industry profits.

"I want to make sure the oil companies aren't taking a speed pass by
the tax man," said Grassley, the committee's chairman, in a written
statement.

--
"There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to
whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is
impossible." -- Jack Vance

"Civilizaton is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.

"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography" -- Ambrose Bierce

"Long term commitment in relationships is only necessary because it takes
so damn long to raise children. Marriage may well be some kind of trick
to keep the males around beyond sexual satiation." -- Captain Compassion

"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant

Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net

Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks
Under proposal, every U.S. taxpayer would get one
From Dana Bash
CNN
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Posted: 5:44 a.m. EDT (09:44 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/27/gas.rebate/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every American taxpayer would get a $100 rebate
check to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an
amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it
also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most
Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Democrats are also expected to offer their own competing proposal, as
members of both parties jockey for political position on the gas price
issue.

The energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted
Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of
Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending
measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane
relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.

Under Senate rules, either the GOP amendment or the Democratic
alternative would probably need 60 votes to pass, which is considered
unlikely. However, the amendments would give senators a change to cast
votes on measures designed to help constituents being hit by high gas
prices.

As outlined by the senior GOP leadership aide, the energy package
would give taxpayers a $100 rebate, repeal tax incentives for oil
companies and allow the Federal Trade Commission to prosecute
retailers unlawfully inflating the price of gasoline.

The measure would also give the Transportation Department authority to
issue fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles, expand tax
incentives for the use of hybrid vehicles and push for more research
into alternative fuels and expansion of existing oil refineries.

The GOP senators are also calling on the Bush administration to
suspend deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for six months
to increase the nation's oil supply. President Bush announced Tuesday
that he would halt new deposits into the reserve until after the
summer driving season. (Full story)

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats on Wednesday called for a
new energy bill and federal legislation to punish price gougers.

"There's no reason why we can't put forth a real energy policy that
addresses the needs of this nation," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a member
of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "from gouging to market
manipulation to biofuels. We can do it." (Full story)

And leaders of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday asked the
Internal Revenue Service to let them examine the tax returns of the
nation's 15 largest oil and gas companies, as part of a "comprehensive
review" of oil industry profits.

"I want to make sure the oil companies aren't taking a speed pass by
the tax man," said Grassley, the committee's chairman, in a written
statement.