Possible Support from a Republican Senator
Republican Senator Richard Lugar, in an op-ed in the Washington Post on Sunday, called for “a revenue-neutral oil security tax” to treat our oil addiction. He wants to
Take every penny collected at the pump and put it right back into the pockets of consumers. …
The government could regularly send a check to everyone over 18. I am prepared to work with the Obama administration and colleagues in Congress to devise the most efficient way to return the revenue to the American people.
Lugar has enormous political credibility as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and reportedly has very good relations with President Obama.
Plus, Lugar discusses in some detail a similar proposal from conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer, who wants a “net-zero gas tax” offset with a decrease in the payroll tax. Here’s his Weekly Standard piece from January 5.
Another supporter of higher fuel taxes who Lugar mentions is Thomas Friedman. Here’s a New York Times piece where he calls for higher gas taxes as a way to facilitate many necessary reforms.
Lugar concludes:
A net-zero gas tax is the type of transformational policy that we could implement quickly and that would have immediate impact.
One of the simplest and most effective means available for strengthening U.S. national security is to dramatically reduce our oil dependence. A gas tax that returns money to Americans would take us a long way toward that goal.
It would also — if large enough, like a basic income — take us a long way toward ending hunger, homelessness, and debilitating poverty, and toward real progress on many other goals. Higher gas taxes and a basic income are a great fit — and the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is good evidence for that.
Tags: gas taxes, New York Times