Obama Called Gas Tax Relief A "Bad Idea." "Earlier Monday at a community college in thePhiladelphia suburbs, Obama rejected a tax holiday as bad economic policy. 'I've said I think John McCain's proposal for a three-month tax holiday is a bad idea,' Obama said, warning consumers that any price cut would be short lived before costs spike back." (Nick Timiraos, "Clinton Joins McCain On Gas-Tax Holiday," The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" Blog, blogs.wsj.com, 4/21/08)


But In March 2000, Obama Voted For The Temporary Elimination Of The State Sales Tax On Gas:


As A State Senator, Obama Voted To Suspend The State Sales Tax On Gasoline. (S.B. 1310: Senate Third Floor Reading, Passed, 50-0-6, 3/8/00, Obama Voted Yea)


The State Of Illinois Suspended Its Five Percent Sales Tax On Gasoline. "After a whirlwind legislative session, Gov. Ryan signed legislation Thursday that suspends the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline. If that is passed on to consumers, fuel prices would drop by about a dime per gallon." (Dave McKinney and Fran Spielman, "Ryan Signs Suspension Of Gas Tax," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/30/00)


Obama Said He Supported The Gas Tax Suspension Due To The "Huge Hike" In Gas Prices. Obama: "I originally voted for the suspension because I thought that it was extraordinary circumstances, given the huge hike in prices, but I don't think that we have the evidence yet to make this a permanent three-hundred- or four-hundred-million-dollar hole in the General Revenue Fund." (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 11/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, pp. 51-52)


And The Temporary Gas Tax Relief That Obama Voted For In The State Senate Helped Consumers:


In 2000, Gas Prices Suddenly Dropped Between 8 And 10 Cents A Gallon Overnight When The Tax Suspension Went Into Effect. "When the tax suspension went into effect July 1, the change in price was obvious, as prices suddenly dropped between 8 and 10 cents a gallon overnight." (Karen Mellen and Ray Long, "As Gasoline Prices Drop, Tax Debate Continues," Chicago Tribune, 7/20/00)


AAA Attributed Part Of The Decline In Gas Prices To Illinois' Temporary Suspension Of Its Gas Tax. "The price of gasoline inIllinois dropped 40 cents since its peak this summer, according to the latest survey Wednesday, a record decrease for one month. ... The AAA credited both states [Illinois andIndiana] for temporarily suspending their five percent sales tax on gasoline, and on an increased supply of cleaner-burning reformulated gas." (Robert McCoppin, "State Gas Prices Set Record One-Month Decline," Chicago Daily Herald, 7/19/00)


AAA Chicago Motor Club's Steve Nolan: "The Temporary Repeal Of The State Gas Tax Has Helped [With Gas Price Drop]..." (Robert Manor, "Illinois Finds Dramatic Relief At Gas Pump," Chicago Tribune, 8/17/00)


The Decline In Gas Prices Was "Aided By The Suspension July 1 [2000] Of The State's 5 Percent Sales Tax On Gasoline." "State legislators had called for the hearings as pump prices soared well above $2 a gallon. The recent decline -- aided by the suspension July 1 of the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline -- took some of the political expediency out of the hearings." (Courtney Challos, "Legislators Now Irked Over Falling Gas Prices," Chicago Tribune, 7/13/00)


Obama Jokingly Wanted A Sign On Gas Pumps Acknowledging He Lowered His Constituents' Gas Prices:


Sen. Frank Watson (R-Greenville, IL): "This amendment [Amendment No. 3 to H.B. 3873] was discussed in the Executive Committee. We did not adopt it at the time, but it was kind of an agreement that this would be sent out to the Floor without any discussion -- or, without going to committee. And it would require theState of Illinois and the Department of Agriculture to place on a -- gasoline pumps the language that the State portion of the State tax on motor fuel and gasohol was eliminated by Public Act whatever, and that it was effective January 1st, 2001." (Sen. Frank Watson,State Of Illinois 91stst General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 80)


Obama: "I wasn't clear on -- on the response to the question, but are -- if the gas tax isn't going anywhere, what happens to this [amendment]?" (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 81)


Sen. Watson: "This is part of the gas tax language. This -- this is part of the reduction of the sales tax on gasoline. So if the gas -- if that passes, this is an amendment to it, and it would require that petroleum marketers have to put a sign on their pumps that this did, in fact happen." (Sen. Frank Watson,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 81)


Obama: "I was wondering, can I -- in my district, can I have 'Senator Obama reduced your gasoline prices'? Is that possible?" (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 81)