McConnell's new ad criticizes Lunsford on gas tax

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell came out swinging at his Democratic opponent in his first ad of the fall election season, criticizing Bruce Lunsford for his work on a state gas tax proposal 28 years ago.

McConnell's ad, which first ran in Lexington during the morning news shows just before 6 a.m., notes that Kentucky's gas tax "just went up" on July 1 by more than a penny for gallon.

That's the result of a policy passed during former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr.'s administration which spanned the last major energy/inflation crisis of the late 1970s to early 1980s. Lunsford was a member of Brown's cabinet who helped push for an automatic increase in the tax rate tied to sharp increases at the pump.

The theory behind that automatic increase in gas tax was that if the price at the pump shoots up, people will cut back their driving, which would lower the tax revenue Kentucky receives from gasoline purchases. That revenue pays for road maintenance and construction.

In fact, McConnell's ad shows Lunsford in a recent press interview, saying "We changed the way we tax gas in this state that gave us a budget that can grow."

The ad goes on to claim the most recent 1.5 cent increase in the state gas tax per gallon on top of penny increases in recent years has cost Kentucky "hundreds of millions" of dollars.

"And today Lunsford wants to pump taxpayers for even more. Bruce Lunsford: automatic tax increases, more expensive gas," the announcer says to conclude the 30-second spot.

By saying Lunsford wants to "pump taxpayers for even more," it leaves the impression that Lunsford supports another increase in taxes on the price of a pump. However, the ad cites a
May 21 Pol Watcher's report in which Lunsford said he favored a windfall profit tax on oil companies in order to cover a gas tax holiday this summer for consumers -- a plan that became a political football during this spring's presidential primary.

Technically oil companies are tax payers but not exactly the type of taxpayer hurt by high gas prices, which is what the rest of McConnell's spot is about.

UPDATE 9:51 a.m.: Lunsford's campaign issued a statement dismissing the ad as "nothing more than a desperate political smokescreen" and blamed the Bush administration and McConnell for doing little to ease the crunch.

"The Bush-McConnell energy policies of the last six years have put us in this mess. McConnell opposes commonsense solutions that offer immediate relief to working Kentucky families struggling to make ends meet due to the current gas crisis," said Allison Haley, spokeswoman for Lunsford's campaign.

Specifically, Haley cited McConnell's opposition to the gas tax holiday. This has emerged as a key philosophical difference between the two candidates.

Lunsford has argued that it would save people 18 cents a gallon of gas to take the federal tax off gasoline. But McConnell cites other economic analysts who say oil companies would simply jack up the prices, especially if they opt to cover the cost of the proposed windfall profits tax.

Haley goes on to say McConnell "opposes tapping the strategic petroleum reserves which have a proven history of reducing oil prices. He opposes closing the Enron Loophole, which has allowed rampant speculation by hedge funds to inflate oil prices $40 a barrel. All the while, McConnell supports more tax breaks for Big Oil while taking $650,000 of their campaign cash and using that money to cover up his awful record."

McConnell, it should be noted, doesn't oppose in principle tapping the strategic petroleum reserve but has said doing so would have little effect on the current prices and instead is aggressively pushing for the United States to open off-limits land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and off-shore spots in the Gulf of Mexico for drilling.

"On gas prices, McConnell isn’t just part of the problem, he’s helped create the problem," Haley said. "We need change in Washington now."

- Ryan Alessi

Comments

[Cleareye]

$4 gas (and rising) is the responsibility of the McConnell/Bush/Cheney Big Oil Boy's Club and has very little to do with taxes of any kind. These people, who all seem to move within a cloud of deception always lay down a smoke screen when the truth rears it's head. The Bush administration, which McConnell has fawned over and protected for 8 years of repeated disasters, seems to intend to stick the knife in our backs a little deeper as they retire to their ranches in 2009, leaving only McConnell, if they're lucky, to hold the bag. We should all do the right thing and have pity on this poor man and replace him with one who is actually competent, honest, hard working, and will fight for the people and not the oil companies.

[fuzzyvision]

"...competent, honest, hard working and will fight for the people..."

Was that when he driving Vencor into bankrupcy, or when he was buying multi-million dollar homes in Chicago and Arizona, or dropping more than $15 million on political campaigns because he can relate to "hard working people."

Cleareye you're in need of a good eye exam.

[BimBeau]

And fuzzy, you could do with a little research into facts instead of sitting there spinning like a dreidel on Hanukkah.

[Carl]

Some of this could be probable if Lunsford knew what he was talking about. We should NOT tap into our oil reserves. We need congress/Pelosi and the senate/Reid to get off their fat arrogant butts and let us drill for our OWN dang oil!!!!!!! Lunsford's only solution is to TAX us. Something has got to give folks. WE have to fight back against all of these inept and lousy politicians. We have to or we will be bankrupt, and reduced to a third world country status. We need to pass into law the dreaded two word law - TERM LIMITS! But Bruce is just the wrong replacement for McConnell.

We don't need more taxes, we need to drill for our oil and drill now. If the senate and congress had allowed drilling in ANWR when President Bush first proposed it in 2001, we would be on the verge of production. And I am sick of oil companies and this government saying we don't have enough refineries because it is a LIE!!! There is an oil refinery ready and willing to go in Somerset, Kentucky. Stop this madness, vote for people who really desire to be PUBLIC SERVANTS, not politicians.

[Roger]

The Three Biggest Myths the Bush Administration Wants You to Believe About Offshore Drilling

http://www.alternet.org/environment/91588/?page=entire&ses=8d5f8a2c9ccfb345ecc023926d656a49

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

Perhaps the focus here could be Senator Mitch McConnell is for Mitch and the people that contribute to his vast funds for lobbying various issues.

This certainly is not his money. Now think?

Has McConnell had to ANTI UP and of his own money?

NO!

Has Bruce Lunsford invested his money and don't pleasuring the nursing home issue, this man has invested his own money. While Mitch lives off the donations by special interests groups- which he lobbies for- in Washington.

And, do not forget for a moment . . . This the same Mitch McConnell that said NO,
NO TO ADDITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN. All, in the name of protecting the major insurance carriers.

So, it may be that some may not feel Bruce Lunsford and he does have a "SCARLET LETTER" but at least . . . his letter is visible and not hiding behind the mistakes that Mitch McConnell has made with he death of over 4000 of our brave men and woman serving in the Middle East.

If any reading this blog have loved ones or good friends that DIED FOR OIL then I hope yo will remember when it comes time to vote for the Senator that . . . could do no worse and just might do . . . a lot better.

IMO, it is worth the GAMBLE.

I just wanna say!

Jim Anderson Stivers
Frankfort, KY.

[Roger]

Another of Mitch's lies exposed:

"...the Washington Post on Monday quoted Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as saying, 'I think people are reassured that not a drop of oil was spilled during Katrina or Rita. Those rigs in the Gulf, there was not a single incident of spillage that anyone reported.'

"...In May 2006, the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a report stating that as a result of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the number of pipelines damaged was 457, and the number of offshore platforms destroyed was 113, with a total of 146 oil spills recorded.

"...As a result of both storms, a total volume of 17,652 barrels (or roughly THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION GALLONS) of total petroleum products, of which 13,137 barrels were crude oil and condensate, was spilled from platforms, rigs and pipelines. 4,514 barrels were refined products from platforms and rigs."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/19/opinion/main4275167.shtml

[Taxpayer]

When Polosi and Reid took over Congress, gas was a little over $2.00 a gallon and they promised to get the prices lowered. Gas prices have nearly doubled since they've taken over and made their promises and not to mention their approval rating is the lowest in history. That alone will make me vote to keep McConnell in there. My wallet can't take any more liberal promises or tax increases!