Even Fellow Democrats Call Kaine-Backed Tax Hikes “Laughable” & “A Gimmick”

As a new USA Today/Gallup survey shows nearly 70 percent of Americans suffering “financial hardship” thanks to a national average of nearly $4-per-gallon gas, Virginians are reminded that liberal former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine is actually attempting to drive the price of fuel up by carrying his fellow Washington Democrats’ water on behalf of their energy tax hikes.

As USA Today reports:

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for their families, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. More than half say they have made major changes to compensate for the higher prices, ranging from shorter trips to cutting back on vacation travel. For 21%, the impact is so dramatic they say their standard of living is jeopardized. Nationally, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.96. That’s up 38%, or $1.09, from levels a year ago. In seven states, gas prices have passed July 2008′s record of $4.11 a gallon.

But instead of supporting efforts to expand domestic production and lower fuel costs for Virginia’s families and job creators, Kaine and the liberal wing of the Democrat Party are pushing a scheme to raise energy taxes – a reckless move that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports would “make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.”

“With the vast majority of Virginia families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why does Tim Kaine want to drive energy costs even higher with his proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond.  “Yet again, Kaine’s water-carrying on behalf of his party’s liberal Washington agenda has put him in direct conflict with the interests of Virginia’s families and small businesses.”

While Kaine’s fellow Washington Democrats claim that near-record-high gas prices are “not the issue,” even several Senate Democrats have called the Kaine-backed proposal “laughable,” and have made clear that his tax hikes will “cost thousands of jobs” and “increase our dependency on foreign oil.” 

Sadly, this is not the first time Tim Kaine has displayed his enthusiasm for job-killing tax hikes.  As a liberal Governor, Kaine proposed billions of dollars in new transportation taxes, and as liberal DNC Chairman in Washington, Kaine has dependably supported President Obama’s efforts to raise income tax rates, as well as ObamaCare’s $570 billion in new taxes.

Background Information:

Kaine Has Called For Transportation Tax Hikes In The Past

Kaine’s 2006 Transportation Plan Called For Tax Increases. “Weeks ago, both the governor and Senate leaders released competing $1 billion-a-year transportation proposals. The Kaine and Senate plans call for tax increases; the House plan does not.” (Michael Hardy, “Kaine Says Debt Possible For Road Fixes,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/10/06)

“Gov. Tim Kaine Will Seek Higher Taxes On Vehicle Purchases And Automobile Insurance Premiums And Steep Fines For Driving Violations To Generate Revenue For A Transportation Funding Package That Would Produce $3.7 Billion In Its First Four Years And Provide A Sustained Source Of Money For Road And Transit Projects.” (Michael Sluss, “Kaine Unveils Road Map,” The Roanoke Times, 1/21/06)

January 2007: “Gov. Tim Kaine Will Make Another Effort To Win Support For A Transportation Funding Package That Relies On Tax And Fee Increases, Despite Failing To Gain Legislative Approval For A Nearly Identical Plan Last Year.” (Michael Sluss, “Fees, Taxes Drive Kaine’s Transportation Plan: The Plan Mimics One The Governor Introduced Last Year, But It Does Not Increase Auto Insurance Premium Taxes,” The Roanoke Times, 1/5/07)

“Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) Proposed Raising State Taxes And Fees Yesterday By Almost $1 Billion A Year For Transportation, Once Again Plunging His Administration Into The Bitter Debate That Nearly Caused A Government Shutdown Last Year.” (Michael D. Shear, “Kaine Again Floats Tax Hike For Traffic Ills,” The Washington Post, 1/5/07)

Kaine’s Plan Would Increase Motor Vehicle Sales Tax By 2 Percent, Increase Vehicle Registration Fees, Impose An “Abuser Fee” On Certain Drivers, And Increase Registration Fees For Heavy Trucks. “The governor’s plan would increase the motor vehicle sales tax from 3 percent to 5 percent, increase vehicle registration fees from $29.50 to $49.50 by 2010, and impose ‘abuser fees’ on motorists convicted of serious violations such as reckless driving and drunken driving. It also would increase registration fees on heavy trucks.” (Michael Sluss, “Fees, Taxes Drive Kaine’s Transportation Plan: The Plan Mimics One The Governor Introduced Last Year, But It Does Not Increase Auto Insurance Premium Taxes,” The Roanoke Times, 1/5/07)

Kaine’s 2008 Transportation Plan Would Raise $1.1 Billion A Year Through Statewide Tax Increases. “In May, Kaine proposed raising $1.1 billion a year by increasing taxes statewide on car and home sales and vehicle registration fees.” (Anita Kumar, “Special Session Begins Monday,” The Washington Post’s Virginia Politics Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, Posted 6/20/08)

Kaine Again Proposed A Statewide Tax Increase For Transportation Funding Through Increased Vehicle Sales Tax And Increase In Registration Fees. “Gov. Tim Kaine said Monday that the mounting cost of highway maintenance and the possible consequences of ignoring it led him to propose another statewide tax increase for transportation, despite opposition from key Republican legislative leaders. Kaine proposed an increase in the vehicle sales tax and another increase in registration fees to reduce a maintenance funding shortfall that has forced the state to use highway construction dollars for the repair and upkeep of roads and bridges.” (Michael Sluss, “Kaine Says More Taxes Necessary To Fix Highways,” The Roanoke Times, 5/13/08)

Kaine’s Fellow Washington Democrats Admit Their Bill To Raise Taxes on Energy Companies Will Not Lower Gas Prices

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “You know, this is not going to change the price at the gasoline pump. That’s not the issue.  I don’t see that as an issue at all. The issue I see is who shares.” (U.S. Senate, Finance Committee, Hearing, 5/12/11)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “This was never intended to talk about lowering prices.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 5/11/11)

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ): “Nobody has made the claim that this bill is about reducing gas prices.” (“McCaskill: Savings From Cutting Oil Tax Breaks Should Be For Deficit Reduction,” The Hill’s E2 Wire Blog, 5/10/11)

CRS: Dem Tax Hikes “Would Make Oil And Natural Gas More Expensive For U.S. Customers”:

CRS: Tax changes outlined in the President’s budget proposal “would make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.” (“Oil And Natural Gas Industry Tax Issues In The FY2012 Budget Proposal,” Congressional Research Service, 3/3/11)

DEM SENATOR: “It Will Actually Hurt Job Production In The United States”

“When it comes up for a vote in the Senate sometime in the next week, its chances of passing seem slim to none because not only is it going to run up against widespread Republican opposition, it won’t even have the support of all 53 Democrats.” (“The Skunks At The Garden Party,” ABC News, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Laughable.” “You ask me can I vote for a bill like this. No. Not only can I not vote for it, it’s laughable.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “A gimmick.” “You’re right, this piece of legislation they put down without really a committee process on it is a gimmick, a gimmick to get the next week of activity, and get some press out there.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “It will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.” “I would just like to add my strong voice to urging my colleagues to read this bill, to look at it and understand the inherent unfairness in it, the lack of significant deficit reduction, and the fact that it will not, although it is being touted as, it will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “It won’t decrease prices at the pump.” “There is a lot of talk right now about ending tax incentives for oil and gas industry, but the high profits right now of these companies are easy targets. But one thing Alaskans know, just because you have an easy target doesn’t mean it is the right thing to shoot. It won’t decrease prices at the pump for our families and small businesses. It will discourage companies, especially the independents, from domestic investment and job creation.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Will it create jobs? No. It will actually hurt job production in the United States.” “Why are we singling out one sector of one energy – you know, one part of the energy industry to repeal the subsidies when it will in fact have the opposite effect of reducing gasoline prices, which even its sponsors, one of its cosponsors said publicly for us not to be fooled. This will not reduce gasoline prices. So why are we doing it? Will it create jobs? No. It will actually hurt job production in the United States.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “The bureaucrats in [President Obama’s] administration are not listening. They are not – they are tossing up barriers in additional Alaskan oil and gas production every chance they get. Sadly, some of my colleagues in this body are not much better. Instead of addressing the problem with specific solutions, they are going for headlines by dragging energy company executives before committees or promising the roadblocks — or proposing that roadblock incentives for increased domestic energy consumption, some of which have been on the books for decade. Let’s stop the headline-grabbing and get serious about the energy security.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)