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District 1 Democratic hopefuls debate gas-tax holiday
May 21, 2008 Portland Press Herald by Kevin Wack, Staff Writer.
Election 2008: Only one of the six backs the idea, with a windfall-profits tax levied on oil companies.
Amid record-high fuel prices, the six Democrats who hope to represent Maine's 1st Congressional District debated the notion of a gas-tax holiday on Tuesday.
One of the candidates, Mark Lawrence, previously said that he favored giving motorists a temporary reprieve from the federal gas tax, with a windfall-profits tax being assessed on oil companies to offset the lost gas-tax revenue.
On Tuesday, Lawrence said the windfall-profits tax should be imposed first. He said he remains open to the idea of a gas-tax holiday, as well as to other measures aimed at relieving drivers' pain at the pump.
None of the five other Democrats endorsed a suspension of the federal gas tax over the summer -- as both Hillary Clinton and John McCain have proposed -- but several spoke favorably about more targeted ways of putting money back in motorists' pockets.
The six candidates are vying to replace Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, who is leaving the 1st District seat to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Voters will choose the Democratic and Republican nominees in primaries on June 10. The nominees will then face off in the Nov. 4 general election.
Nationally this week, gasoline prices reached $3.79 per gallon, a new record. With summer around the corner, the price is expected to keep rising.
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, recently endorsed a suspension of the 18-cent federal gas tax over the summer. Clinton, who remains in the race for the Democratic nomination, endorsed the same idea, but also said that a windfall-profits tax should be imposed to pay for it. The gas tax is used to pay for transportation infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.
Tuesday's debate between the congressional candidates came during a meeting of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram's editorial board.
The discussion highlighted a dilemma that many Democratic candidates face on energy issues: how to balance their long-term objectives, which include a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, with the short-term goal of providing economic relief to motorists. Economists say that reducing the cost of gasoline -- which is the aim of the gas-tax holiday -- would lead to more consumption.
Adam Cote, one of the six Democratic candidates, said that he is open to the idea of a fuel price rebate for people who make less than $70,000 per year, though he expressed some ambivalence about the proposal.
"I think it's a decent idea," Cote said. "I always truthfully get leery of even talking about these things because I don't like quick fixes, and that's truthfully what this is."
Democrat Chellie Pingree also expressed openness to tax relief for certain motorists -- specifically mentioning farmers and fishermen.
"A lot of people work in the trades, like my neighbors do. And you have to drive a pickup truck," said Pingree, who lives on an island in Penobscot Bay. "So we have to be realistic about what's going to happen to people in this economy, and I think we have to think of ways to help them."
Steve Meister, who is also vying for the Democratic nomination, said he favors cutting the diesel tax, since it would help truckers, who are particularly hard hit by high fuel prices.
Michael Brennan, another candidate in the race, said there should be less focus on the trucking industry and a greater emphasis on railroads and mass transit.
"I'd be in favor of getting more trucks off the road," Brennan said.
Lawrence's call for a windfall-profits tax on the oil companies was echoed by Brennan, Meister and Ethan Strimling, another Democrat in the race.
Strimling has also recently called for Congress to better regulate trading of oil futures, saying that speculation by investors is raising the cost of gasoline.
Since the congressional campaign began last year, the Democratic candidates have met for around 30 debates and forums. From 8 to 9 tonight, they'll take part in a televised debate on WCSH-Channel 6.
Staff Writer Kevin Wack can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:
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