Michigan Congressman Wants 50-Cent Tax Hike on Every Gallon of Gas

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According to polls the majority of Americans support any policy that would reduce greenhouse gases. But the majority do not want to pay for it.

U.S. Representative John Dingell (D-MI), chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, wants to help cut gasoline consumption by adding a new gas tax. A poll that was out yesterday by the National Center for Public Policy Research show the majority do not agree with a new gas tax.

According to the poll forty-eight percent of Americans are unwilling to spend even a penny more on a gas tax. The opposition to an increase in taxes on gasoline is strongest among minorities. 53 per cent of blacks are against any tax increase in any amount. 78 per cent of Hispanics and 84 per cent of blacks are opposed to a tax of 50 cents or more.

According to David A. Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research,

"It's not surprising that minorities oppose higher gas taxes in large numbers, as such taxes are sharply regressive, harming the economically-disadvantaged disproportionately. An extra $300 per year in taxes means little to someone making $100,000 annually. When you're just getting by, it can mean not having enough for food, rent or utility bills."

Americans use more gas than the next 20 countries combined use. Most of the nations pollution comes from automobiles.

There are environmentalists and economists that feel more gas tax is bad for Americans but it would be good for the planet.

But some some believe it wouldn't change that much. If Americans were to eliminate their automobiles in the U.S. it would only eliminate world emissions by a fraction.

According to Foxnews.com Ridenour said,

"I think when you are talking about raising gas prices, there may be short-term reduction, put off vacations, but bottom line is over long term, that isn't going to have much of an effect,"

According to Ridenour the proposal by Congressman Dingell to raise the gas tax by 50 cents is "dead-on-arrival" as far as the public is concerned. Ridenour adds:

"Even if it wasn't, Dingell's proposal is too modest to encourage any meaningful fuel conservation. "Europeans routinely pay between $4 and $5 per gallon of gas in taxes and their fuel appetite continues to grow nevertheless. Just 1% of Americans are willing to spend an additional $5 dollars or more. Republicans are willing to do so by a 3 to 1 margin over Democrats."

There probably won't be anything more said about Dingell's idea until after the Nov. election.

Clinton, Obama and McCain all are in support of some type of system that will either directly or indirectly raise prices to penalize polluters.