opinion

Both Barack Obama and Al Gore support higher energy taxes that hurt middle class Americans

An Inconvenient Truth?
by the Republican National Committee

Former Vice President Gore Is A Long Time Supporter Of Energy Taxes That Would Hurt Middle Class Families:

• As Vice President, Gore Pushed For A "Broad-Based Energy Tax." "Gore told the group he favored a broad-based energy tax - something not on Bentsen's list - such as a tax levied on the use of the British thermal units, or BTUs, a basic measure of energy. A BTU tax would be environmentally sound, he said, because coal, the dirtiest fuel, would be hit the hardest, though oil and natural gas would also be taxed. This emphasis would create political problems in coal states, he acknowledged, such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio, which were key to Clinton's election." (Bob Woodward, The Agenda, 1994, p. 89)

• Gore "Virtually Designed The [Energy] Tax And Spearheaded The Fight." "'We've lost this issue,' the vice president said in total dejection. He believed that the hard political choices had to be made and enacted into law during the first year, and that meant the BTU tax could be gone for good. He had virtually designed the tax and spearheaded the fight." (Bob Woodward, The Agenda, 1994, p. 222)

• Gore "Was Gunning For An Energy Tax," Even Though It Would Hurt The Middle Class. "Worse, he [Clinton Economic Adviser Gene Sperling] reported, Gore was gunning for an energy tax, which would hit the middle class." (Bob Woodward, The Agenda, 1994, p. 94)

• Gore Argued For The "Biggest Possible Tax" On Energy. "Gore, too, kept pushing for it [BTU tax], arguing for the biggest possible tax. 'The public is more willing than we realize,' he said at one point." (Bob Woodward, The Agenda, 1994, p. 128)

• Obama Has Called For A Similar Tax On Coal And Natural Gas:

• Obama Told A Texas Newspaper: "What We Ought To Tax Is Dirty Energy, Like Coal And, To A Lesser Extent, Natural Gas." ("Q&A With Sen. Barack Obama," San Antonio Express-News, 2/19/08)

NOTE: Coal And Natural Gas Are Two Substantial Sources Of Electricity For The Country:

• Coal Is The Largest Source Of Electricity In America, Accounting For Nearly 49 Percent Of U.S. Total Net Generation In 2006. (Energy Information Administration Website, www.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)

• "The U.S. Has The World's Largest Coal Reserves, With The Western U.S. Accounting For 55 Percent Of Current U.S. Coal Production." (Energy Information Administration Website, tonto.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)

• Natural Gas Is The Second Largest Source Of Electricity In America, Accounting For 20 Percent Of US Total Net Generation In 2006. (Energy Information Administration Website, www.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)

• "The U.S. Is The World's Largest Consumer And Second-Largest Producer Of Natural Gas." (Energy Information Administration Website, tonto.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)

As Vice President, Gore Also Cast The Tie-Breaking Vote To Raise The Federal Gas Tax:

• In 1993, Gore Cast The Tie-Breaking Vote To Raise The Federal Gas Tax. "Adoption of the conference report to reduce the deficit by an estimated $496 billion over five years through almost $241 billion in additional taxes and $255 billion in spending cuts, closely tracking President Clinton's economic proposals. Of the cuts in the bill, $102 billion would come through a freeze of discretionary spending at or below fiscal 1993 levels through fiscal 1998. Proposals in the bill include: a new top income tax bracket of 36 percent with a 10 percent surtax above $250,000 retroactive to Jan. 1, 1993; a tax increase on the Social Security benefits of wealthier recipients; an increase of 4.3 cents in the federal gasoline tax..." (H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #247: Adopted 51-50: R 0-44; D 50-6, With Vice Pres. Al Gore Casting A "Yea" Vote, 8/6/93)

Obama Has Said He Would Have Preferred A Gradual Increase In Gas Prices And Opposes Gas Tax Relief:

• Obama Said He Would Have Preferred A Gradual Increase In Gas Prices. Obama: "Well, I think that we have been slow to move in a better direction when it comes to energy usage. And the president, frankly, hasn't had an energy policy. And as a consequence, we've been consuming energy as if it's infinite. We now know that our demand is badly outstripping supply with China and India growing as rapidly as they are. So..." CNBC's John Hardwood: "So could these high prices help us?" Obama: "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing." (CNBC's "Your Money, Your Vote," 6/10/08)

• Obama Opposes Gas Tax Relief. "Obama does not support the 'gas tax holiday' and has said the average motorist would not benefit significantly from such a suspension..." (Sara Kugler, "Clinton Focuses On Obama's Opposition To Suspending Federal Gas Tax For Summer Driving Months," The Associated Press, 4/28/08)

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