$1-per-gallon gas tax for research

The American public has spoken and wants this new administration to finally get going on resolving the energy challenges we face in this country. The greatest challenge that we face is how to pay for what we need to do. The Energy Information Agency (EIA) on 3/8/08 released gasoline consumption rates for 2007: Americans consumed more than 142 billion gallons of gasoline. The year of 2008 will be a little less, based on current forecast. Since July of 2008, the cost of a gallon of gas has dropped from about $4.22 per gallon to $2 per gallon. If a $1-per-gallon tax were added it would generate $140 billion or more to be used for research/development of alternative energy. This is enough money to get the ball rolling as it is the same amount that President Obama was suggesting be spent as he campaigned. I believe that all Americans would be more than willing to support this tax if it were put into a separate fund and managed outside of the general fund. An outside agency like Citizens Utility Board (CUB) could be given the overseeing responsibility to guarantee that the money is used for as it was intended. This money would save the federal government from having to generate more debt to support this initiative. Since we as Americans pay for everything that we do in government, it seems to me a way to get us moving forward, as up to now nothing has happened.

Tom Rajcan

Wheaton