White Flag Republican Steven LaTourette wants to buy your vote with a gas "reimbursement" for commuters. The Cleveland Plain Dealer blog OPENERS picks the story up from there...Today, U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette of Concord Township has been saying that whatever the long-term solution is, consumers need a little short-term help, too. His proposal: The "Commuter Relief and Fuel Efficiency Act of 2008," which would reimburse commuters for up to 30 miles per day, round trip, five days a week.The comments section is a hoot...I am particularly sympathetic to this guy:
The standard reimbursement would be 4 cents per mile, LaTourette's office says, and vehicles that receive 35 miles per gallon would get 5 cents a mile -- the equivalent of $1.75 off a gallon of gas (5 cents x 35 mpg).
The maximum reimbursement would be $375 a year for someone driving 30 miles per day roundtrip to work for 50 weeks of the year, or 7500 miles.
And this would be not only when gasoline is sky-high, like right now. It would be triggered whenever the national average price of gas was at or above $2.75 a gallon, LaTourette's office says. We can only dream when gas would be less than that. This would not effectively be a permanent subsidy, according to LaTourette's office, because the bill was introduced as a proposed three-year program. It could be cut short if prices fell or extended if needed.
LaTourette's promotion of this bill is new, but the idea isn't. He introduced the bill May 22. So far, he has two co-sponsors, a sign that the proposal is a long way from becoming law.
I drive 42 miles round trip 5 days a week..This is not a solution. It is a gimmick. If we wanted a gimmick, we'd call on the Democrats...
I have a 05 sebring which gets about 28 hgwy
Right now im spending 60.00 a week in gas (including personal use which might account for an addtl 50 miles a week)
60 * 4 = 240 a month in fuel costs
375.00 max cash back...
375 / 12 = 31.25 per month
Giant Eagle gives me better discounts over the same amount of time.
Next............................................
The most ridiculous thing is that LaTourette doesn't bother to tell us where the money is coming from. Hey, Steven, if WE are paying for it already, it isn't a reimbursement...but if you are willing to give those dollars up for a gimmick, why not propose a $375.00 tax cut?
