Republican Party of Virginia: Obama’s Flip-Flop on the Gas Tax

FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA

April 24, 2008

CONTACT: Josh Noland
804-780-0111 Office ~ 804-201-1527 Cell
jnoland@rpv.org


RICHMOND, VA – Barack Obama’s hypocrisy has hit an all-time high, just like our nation’s fuel prices.

A few years ago, when he was serving in the Illinois state Senate, Obama voted for gas tax relief for Illinois residents in light of rising prices. Now, as gas prices swell across the country – hitting $3.47 right here in Virginia – Senator John McCain has offered a plan to release the 18.4 cents-per-gallon tax families and businesses are forced to pay when they fill up. McCain’s proposal would provide relief from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

“Obama doesn’t feel the same compassion for Americans’ financial burden as he did for his home state constituents or he would support a similar measure that would reduce gas bills by more than $6 billion this summer,” said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John Hager. “If Obama understood the economy, he would accept John McCain’s gas tax plan as much-needed relief for all Americans this summer.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Obama supported the Illinois measure because he “thought that it was extraordinary circumstances, given the huge hike in prices.”

The paper further notes that “gas prices averaged $1.52 a gallon in March 2000” when the Illinois vote was taken (Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2008)