Now here is an idea that, if tried nationally, could really help lower energy prices -- lower the tax burden imposed upon fuel costs.

With pump prices surging toward $3 and possibly beyond this summer, the Texas House voted by a wide margin Tuesday to temporarily save motorists 20 cents a gallon every time they fuel up.

Call it "tax-free gas" for the summer driving season, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said after the House tentatively approved his amendment 118-16.

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His amendment to a gas-tax collection bill would repeal the state's gasoline tax for 90 days, which would cost Texas an estimated $500 million to $700 million toward highway construction and public education. But the proposal would make up for it by sapping the $8 billion budget surplus, currently split almost evenly between money set aside for future school property tax cuts and the state's Rainy Day fund.

"That fund goes to times when we are in crisis and, right now, with gas prices through the roof, there is a crisis," Martinez Fischer said. "The last time I checked, that money belongs to the people of Texas."

The proposal may not survive the State Senate in the final three weeks of our biennial legislative session (next regular session -- January, 2009). However, I suspect that enough voices from the public might have an effect to get the measure through, and make Texas a model for every other state and the ferderal government to really help reduce fuel costs.

Posted by: Greg at 09:47 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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