Gas-tax abatement talk is all fumes

Don Welzenbach
Moline

All this talk by McCain and Clinton about a gas-tax holiday is hogwash. Neither of them is in a position at this time to take any action on abating the tax. Not until we elect a new president will anyone have an opportunity to take such action. The earliest that could happen is 10 months in the future.

And as for compensating for the loss of gas-tax revenue by saddling the oil industry with an excess-profits tax, that requires an act of Congress.

It appears to me that only Sen. Obama has addressed the issue rationally. On issues of this magnitude, I would prefer his measured approach to the pandering of McCain and Clinton.