For months we have been doing a lot of talking about America’s working families who are paying twice as much as they were paying for a gallon of gas last year while oil companies are reporting record profits. For the first time since 2001, Congress is finally conducting real, meaningful oversight over the energy industry. What we’re finding out is deeply troubling while what we’re experiencing at the pumps is literally highway robbery.

Americans are looking to Congress to help them respond to unwarranted gas price increases. Sadly, Senate Republicans this week said that they would rather play politics than help Americans out. I find their actions to be reprehensible.

This week, I introduced The Working Families Gas Tax Credit Act, legislation which will give working families the temporary relief that they need during this difficult time.

The Working Families Gas Tax Credit Act will provide a $500 tax credit to individuals and a $1000 tax credit to families who make up to $75,000 or $150,000 or less, respectively. All individuals and families who were eligible for the economic stimulus rebate recently passed into law by the Democratic Congress would be eligible for this tax credit. Similar to the 2008 economic stimulus package, the amount of the credit will phase out for individuals making over $75,000 and families making over $150,000.

Realize, except for housing costs, low- and middle-income households in the United States spend more of their earnings on transportation than anything else. I view this credit as a secondary economic stimulus which will go a long way to helping Americans cope with escalating gas costs and limited resources.

It is time for Republicans to stop obstructing Congress from providing Americans with the relief that they need. Democrats are doing everything we can, and I hope that my bill will be a part of the package that we ultimately pass.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 2:20 pm and is filed under Politics .