Two against one

According to a report on CNN, repealing the 18-cents-per-gallon gas tax for the summer has become a political football, with presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and John McCain favoring the repeal and Barack Obama lining up against it. "I think [Americans] should have some immediate relief," Clinton said. But the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that suspending the federal gas tax for a period of approximately three months would only save American families on average about $10. per month.

Obama calls the Clinton plan, and a similar proposal by McCain, a sham and pure pandering for votes. "Though most economists agree with him, arguing against a gas tax holiday is tricky politically," said Candy Crowley, CNN senior political analyst.

Industry associations, from AEM, NSSGA and NRMCA on down, are on record as saying a repeal of the gas tax is a bad idea. “Ten dollars a month won’t provide true economic relief to American families and would do virtually nothing to stimulate the economy,” said National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) President Robert Garbini. “The only thing a gas tax holiday would do is put an already near bankrupt Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in further jeopardy, set a bad precedent and potentially cause troubles for transportation infrastructure in the future.” Your comment?