(CNN) – A day after Sen. John McCain, the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, unveiled his major economic proposals, CNN Chief National Correspondent John King sat down with McCain to discuss the proposals in more detail.
“Americans need some relief,” McCain said of his proposal to temporarily suspend the federal tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. “I just think it’s kind of a good thing to do so people can have a little more enjoyable summer during tough times,” he added.
McCain, long an advocate of cutting wasteful federal spending, also explained why he was pushing certain measures that would likely delay achieving a balanced federal budget if he wins the White House. “The best way to have a balanced budget is to have a recovering economy,” said McCain.
From CNN Politics
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If he wants to lower gas prices then why doesn't he invest all that money flowing to Iraq into alternative energy technologies?
Let's take the 17 billion in earmarks and fix the roads and do away with the fuel tax and the earmarks for good.
Americans need relief from Bush and McSame.
End the war , SAVE BILLIONS.That would be cutting Wasteful Federal spending.
No more Bush , no more McWar.
Gee, how about another 300$ check?
These idiotic short term schemes the GOP candidates come up with are great for idiotic short-term memory citizens, but does nothing to really help the economy.
And while you're cutting wasteful spending, hows that war going there buddy? Still letting Halliburton get paid 60$ to do a load of laundry while the soldiers can't get new helmets?
We need the relief from republicans like McCain!
Decreased revenue without decreased spending equals increased debt.
The gas tax pays to repair our deteriorating infrastructure. To get suspend the gas tax, billions of dollars would have to be diverted from the general fund and would raise the deficit. This could be done, but John McCain and his Republican Party lead us into a bogus and costly war in Iraq costing us more than the Fed takes in for the gas tax.
...i agree with reader.
I'm stymied that it's perceived to be more important for people to have a more enjoyable summer than they would dealing with the reality of living an unsustainable future.
Evidently John McCain not only lacks an energy plan, it seems he also wants to spend time exploding the deficit as well.
Ummm, cutting the tax on gas is a bad idea–may feel good initially, but bad move. Gas taxes are supposed to support highway/road tax and without that how can one budget for the future–oh yeah, who gives a rip about the future.
I believe that Mr. McCain is the first politician to propose any relief, for the average American, at the gas pumps. His proposal is at best a band-aid, but will help in the short term. The real solution is to REGULATE the oil industry, and to prevent them from hiding behind, "the law of supply and demand." Is there a supply shortage?? Nope, not as long as they can charge whatever they want for their product!!!
Mr. McCain can come up with some interesting ideas. Getting rid of the gas taxes will help the truckers, especially The Independent Truckers, our country's last cowboys in a way. Darn hard workers worthy of respect- the salt of the earth.
You right McCain, Americans do need a relief and your not it.
It would be really nice to get lower gas prices during the summer. I doubt we would feel any real lowering of prices since the station owners or distributors will take most of the tax releif.
That money goes for road and bridge construction. Since he does not have a way to pay for the lack of revenue, we will have to borrow money to pay for the road and bridge construction we really need. That will further weaken the the dollar overseas. With the weakening dollar, the price of oil will continue to grow.
So we would be stuck with a higher debt, higher oil prices, and less road and bridge repair.. It sounded really good, but McCain realy doesn't know much about the economy
"I remember back in my day, 80 years ago, when gas was 10 cents a gallon" – John McCain
I think we need alot of relief from the Republican same old same old of pandering to big oil. Reps, your days are numbered.
Why don't we get rid of the illegal income tax? This would give relief to the poeple and the economy.
I would be more impressed if he was pressuring Bush for the "temporary suspension" of taxes on gasoline right now.
Why wait until November to lower the gas prices? My pockets are hurting now.
The Democratic Senate and Congress are misleading the American People. There is no valid economic reason to reject the free trade agreement with Columbia. Colombia's exports already enter the U.S. market duty-free under the 1991 Andean Trade Preference Act. But most U.S. exports to Colombia face big tariffs; 35 percent on autos, 15 percent on tractors and 10 percent on computers. The agreement would reduce these to zero; therefore it has no impact on imports, but will significantly help our exports. Why are the Democrats opposing it? Just to be popular and look to oppose free trade? It certainly doesn’t have any economic reason.
It's disappointing that Hillary and Barrack both oppose it. It's time for congress, senate and the white house to do the hard but RIGHT things, not just tell us what they think we would like to hear. It's time for JOHN MCCAIN.
It surely it isn't ok to be sexist or racist; so why do some people have no problem being ageist? Heres a radical idea: Lets elect the person based on their integrity, honesty, commitment to America and their POLICY.
McCain 08
Oh yeah!
Just what I needed to hear from a Politician.
I have been feeling the pain for the past 7+ years and now this man comes around and wants to tell me the most obvious.
Get out please. and leave America alone McCain.
Charge the Iraqis.
Stop the war.
Though senator McCain may claim to not up taxes, we are still spending money in Iraq. The short lived relief of gas will not help in the long run! We will still have a mortgage and home crisis,food prices will rise, and minimum wage will still be $5.15 an hour!
I rather have jobs created here, people being able to afford the cost of living, and no war making the national debt larger, than having menial tax breaks that don't help an economy in recession!
Now maybe there's a component to this I'm missing, but the gas tax here in Chicago is, I believe, 18 cents/gallon. For a sedan with a 16-20 gallon tank that comes to.... an average of $3.20 per TANK of savings.... at least for the six or so months out of the year that McCain proposes to suspend the gas tax.... some "relief"? Man economics really isn't his strong suit!
John McCain is a one term President, if elected and pandering ideas. John McCain will not put the blame of the Iraq war on George Bush. He is being dishonest to shift all the blame on Rumsfelt. Another 3rd term of Bush.
Bush/McCain 08