Obama links payroll tax cut to gas prices

 

While Congress has yet to deliver the bill to his desk, President Obama today praised the body for passing a ten-month extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance, although he urged them to pass more of his legislative priorities.

"In the end, everyone acted in the interests of the middle class, and people who are striving to get into the middle class through hard work, Obama said in remarks at the White House Tuesday morning.

The president also said the passage of the legislation, which the White House says would give the average worker an extra $40 a pay period, could help pay for gas, which is at record highs for this time of year.

"That $40 helps to pay the rent, the groceries, the rising cost of gas," Obama said, "which is on a lot of people's minds right now."

Obama said that while Congress had done the "right thing" on tax cuts, he had proposed many other measures that the White House believes will help economic recovery.

"Now my message to Congress is:  Don’t stop here.  Keep going," he added, laying out three specific directives: approving a program that would expand access to mortgage refinancing for some underwater homeowners; funding programs to reward small businesses who keep jobs in America; and passing the so-called "Buffett rule" to raise taxes on individuals earning more than $1 million.

Obama added that if Congress did not act on these programs, he would find avenues around the legislature to accomplish the same goals.

"With or without Congress, every day I’m going to be continuing to fight for (Americans).  I do hope Congress joins me, he said, urging them not to spend "the coming months in a lot of phony political debates."

While today's event was held to commemorate the passage of the bill, Congress has not yet presented Obama with a document to sign, which sometimes is accompanied by a public event featuring members who supported the legislation.

But White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said during today's briefing with reporters that the delay was not a political maneuver meant to prevent the president from staging a signing ceremony.

"Sometimes it takes time for Congress to deliver a bill," after a reporter broached the premise of political motivation.

Discuss this post

Okay?

What's the point?

I'm proud of the President for having the courage to point out the increasing cost of fuel.

For the average working class family, $40 bucks per pay period is a r-e-l-i-e-f!

No matter how you spin it...

  • 10 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:01 PM EST

I don't think anyone thought they would come out ahead with the payroll tax cut thanks to increasing prices. In a minute the teapublicans will start blaming the president for gas prices again. The president is trying to put an end to the Iranian nuclear program, and both the United States and the European Union is not buying their product. That will drive up prices, but it's the right thing to do. At the same time we can expect Libya to increase their exports over the next year which should help, but the big problem remains increased demand from countries like China. The president is working to bring us autos with higher mileage and to cut demand in general for oil. All of this will take time.

  • 9 votes
#1.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:10 PM EST

"I'm proud of the President for having the courage to point out the increasing cost of fuel."

Pathetic hero worship....weak, even for you, Feisty.

Will Obama have the courage to point out how much the deficit has ballooned under his reckless spending?

  • 8 votes
#1.2 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:39 PM EST

Pathetic hero worship....weak, even for you, Feisty.

Come on boob - you're just pissed he has taken the wind out of your right wing nut sails... ;o)

Will Obama have the courage to point out how much the deficit has ballooned under his reckless spending?

Why would he? It's right wing spoon fed bull@!$%# which, you can't seem to get enough of! Bon Apetite Bob!

Your #1 Moonbat Soro's Monkey

  • 6 votes
#1.3 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:43 PM EST

Feisty, he hasn't taken the wind out of anything. Now if he had passed the Keystone XL Pipeline, that might have given him some juice. If he had not shut down the Wayne National Forest in Ohio for drilling, the might have given him some juice. If he would quit stonewalling oil shale development in Colorado, that might have righted his ship, but your man is going down, Feisty. If gasoline goes to $4.50 a gallon, Anthony Wiener could beat him.

  • 3 votes
#1.4 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:13 PM EST

Ron - see my comment # 2.3 it applies to you as well...

  • 4 votes
#1.5 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:17 PM EST

No matter how you spin it, $40 doesn't even give me a full tank of gas. And it doesn't even BEGIN to make up for the increased cost of groceries and utilities.

  • 4 votes
#1.6 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:28 PM EST

No matter how you spin it, my family and I are MUCH WORSE OFF under Hussein, and I will vote for anyone BUT Hussein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 2 votes
#1.7 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:30 PM EST

feisty -- again with the name calling??? why not a good intelligent discussion for a change?

  • 3 votes
#1.8 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:25 PM EST

Gas prices are rising because of his policies so we should be thankful he's "giving" us 40 bucks? Need I mention its coming from social security. I thought they were the watchdogs of social security. I remember when Bush was in office Obama saying he didn't mind gas prices rising, he just didn't want them to rise as quickly as they were. He wants this economy to stall so he can have an excuse for the wonderful god that is government can take over to save us all.

  • 2 votes
#1.9 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:43 PM EST

I want to know if the $40 per pay period is guaranteed, because I don't think it works out to that much money for all of us. And I fully agree that it won't even fill my gas tank, not even half at this point. It is another case of a promised benefit that really isn't a benefit, and isn't really a benefit to all Americans.

    #1.10 - Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:26 AM EST
    Reply

    Democrats have been talking about the need to get off oil for thirty years; if we hadn't elected Reagan, Bush I and Bush II, we might be laughing at the Iranians right now.

    • 9 votes
    #2 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:02 PM EST

    I distinctly remember a certain President in the late 70's who warned us of the consequences of our oil addiction.

    They called him crazy...

    • 11 votes
    #2.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:13 PM EST

    Democrats talk...and talk...and talk...and spend...and spend...for 30 years....but don't accomplish much.

    If we drilled more oil domestically, and didnt listen to Democrats blather on about windmills and solar panels, we would be energy independent by now.

    Yes, Obama's hero President Carter subsidized "green energy" . It was a disastrous failure.

    • 4 votes
    #2.2 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:42 PM EST

    If we drilled more oil domestically

    Right wing nitwits... drill baby drill...drill & cause the largest ecological catastrophe in this country's history... drill... drill... drill...

    Hey Boob - you really...really...really... aren't very good at this! lol

    • 7 votes
    #2.3 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:45 PM EST

    Oh, I get it Feisty, you want us to stop drilling and let the Arabs do it. Then we can give our oil jobs and our gas money to the Arabs. That's brilliant. I wish I had thought of that. That way they can have the ecological disaster you foresee, and we can have the economic disaster everybody foresees.

    Yeah, absolutely brilliant. Are you sure you're not related to Obama?

    • 3 votes
    #2.4 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:29 PM EST

    That way they can have the ecological disaster you foresee,

    Foresee?

    Do tell, what cave you were cowering in when the BP oil spill occurred?

    In case you didn't hear 11 men LOST their lives & the Gulf still hasn't recovered...

    Let me spell it out for you real slow so you can follow along - I am AGAINST drilling for oil PERIOD!

    Tell me brainiac - how much of our domestic oil in sold to the U.S.?

    You may now resume your regularly scheduled grazing like all good sheep... Ronnie...

    • 4 votes
    #2.5 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:35 PM EST

    Have fun on the bicycle, Feisty. Most Americans don't want to live like that, but you have fun out there. Meanwhile, those of us that realize the internal combustion engine is going to be with us for awhile, and power our transportation, and the rest of the world's, would like to develop our God given natural resources and reap the benefits of what this great country provides us.

    "I am AGAINST drilling for oil PERIOD!" Outstanding, Feisty. But most of us aren't. You may not like that, but it's a fact you're going to have to live with. If Obama doesn't get on board, he will lose the election.

    Why do you think the President didn't just drive a nail in the Keystone Pipeline and permanently kill it? Was it so he could string the unions that want the jobs, along, or was it so he could string the greenies like you, along. He's going to stick it to somebody. I wonder who? And I wonder how long the American people will put up with his grade school, bull$hit,games.

    • 3 votes
    #2.6 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:49 PM EST

    Tell me brainiac - how much of our domestic oil in sold to the U.S.?

    Oh My - I see you have failed your homework assignment... lol

    Instead of rants on things you know nothing about, you might try to educate yourself sometime - I promise, it won't hurt a bit!

    But most of us aren't.

    Proof please? I hope you won't be too offended if I just don't take your word for it! *wink wink*

    I mean given your comments so far...

    Care to try to answer the question I posed to you or are you going to continue to stomp your widdle feet & continue senseless yammering?

    • 4 votes
    #2.7 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:55 PM EST

    No Feisty, how much and where it is sold is of no importance to me. What is important is who gets the work. You see Americans work in American refineries. American workers work on American oil rigs, Americans construct American pipelines. I know that Oil is a world commodity and is sold around the world. I also know that the United States has a lot of it, and it is valuable.

    As far as whether most people agree with my point of view, or yours, I believe that they agree with me but I haven't done a survey.

    Now hop on your turbo charged broom and go cackle at the neighborhood kids. I've had enough fun with you.

    • 3 votes
    #2.8 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:05 PM EST

    The U.S. has two per cent of the world's oil and yet we use a quarter of the worlds supply. Supply and demand control this situation. Your "Drill baby drill" does not work. Answer Feisty's question coward.

    • 4 votes
    #2.9 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:19 PM EST

    I've had enough fun with you.

    Your surrendor is noted along with your decision to remain stuck on stupid!

    Have a nice evening!

    • 5 votes
    #2.10 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:27 PM EST

    North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) only have 16% of the world’s oil. That is not a lot of oil.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves

    • 3 votes
    #2.11 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:31 PM EST

    talkintoyou55, 2%. Where the hell did you get that number? Did you pull it from the same place your head is stuck? Oh, and having a pair of keyboard balls and calling someone you don't know a coward is not very impressive, but if it makes you swell all up inside, have at it. As far as the oil reserves are concerned, let's just take a look at that.

    At 301 billion metric tons, the oil shale deposits in the United States are easily the largest in the world. There are two major deposits: the eastern US deposits, inDevonian-Mississippian shales, cover 250,000 square miles (650,000 km2); the western US deposits of the Green River Formation in Colorado, Wyoming, andUtah, are among the richest oil shale deposits in the world.

    In Canada 19 deposits have been identified. The best-examined deposits are in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

    Now if we would concentrate on developing these reserves, we might just be able to pay off the Obama debt he's saddled this country with.

    As far as where it is sold, I repeat, I don't care. It's a fluctuating market. Whoever pays the most will get the oil. That's how free markets work. It also works with supply and demand. The more you have to meet the demand, the cheaper it is. Got it, smarta$$?

    My concern is the American economy and American jobs. I made my point and if you pull your head out of your a$$, the crap will clear out and you will be able to think clearly and realize it. Before you play "Billy Bad A$$" on the vine and call people you don't know, a coward, you might want to think things out.

    • 2 votes
    #2.12 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:39 PM EST
    • 3 votes
    #2.13 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:06 PM EST

    that doesn't include shale oil, Dennis.

      #2.14 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:08 PM EST

      To the best of my understanding shale is an estimate thus not proven.

      The 16% at 2.11 does include shale oil estimates.

      • 3 votes
      #2.15 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:15 PM EST

      ron What oil company do you work for? You sound like a add for big oil. Do they pay you by the word or sentence?

      • 1 vote
      #2.16 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:02 PM EST

      The U.S. has two per cent of the world's oil and yet we use a quarter of the worlds supply. Supply and demand control this situation. Your "Drill baby drill" does not work. Answer Fiesty's question coward.

      • 1 vote
      #2.17 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:07 PM EST

      The U.S. has two per cent of the world's oil and yet we use a quarter of the worlds supply. Supply and demand control this situation. Your "Drill baby drill" does not work. Answer Fiesty's question coward.

        #2.18 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:12 PM EST

        The U.S. has two per cent of the world's oil and yet we use a quarter of the worlds supply. Supply and demand control this situation. Your "Drill baby drill" does not work. Answer Fiesty's question coward.

        • 1 vote
        #2.19 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:15 PM EST

        The U.S. has two per cent of the world's oil and yet we use a quarter of the worlds supply. Supply and demand control this situation. Your "Drill baby drill" does not work. Answer Fiesty's question coward.

          #2.20 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:15 PM EST

          The U.S. has two per cent of the world's oil and yet we use a quarter of the worlds supply. Supply and demand control this situation. Your "Drill baby drill" does not work. Answer Fiesty's question coward.

            #2.21 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:17 PM EST

            Dennis, I don't know where you get your numbers, but here are the facts. The U.S. uses 19 million barrels of oil a day. The Oil shale reserves are 2.6 trillion. Do the math.

              #2.22 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:53 PM EST

              I am sick of the "evil, greedy, stupid American" imagery...."We should be getting away from oil" Yet a viable energy alternative to fossil fuel...the wind farms have had the tax breaks offered, to get them up and rolling, repealed by our present administration....Real green policy there. The President jetting everywhere and his wife and family having to follow, always in separate transportation...real green as well. Doesn't anyone remember the images of the oil wells in the Mid East burning???? How much of the world's fuel was wasted by Arabs who decided to set the oil wells on fire rather than sell to the infidels. Why is it that the Americans are greedily using too much of the world resources, but it is permissable for the Arab nations to burn it, so that nobody can use it?....(by the way, those oil fires burned for years after Desert Storm, and nobody was screaming at the Arabs for the environmental impact of the smoke either.

                #2.23 - Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:33 AM EST
                Reply

                Lets continue to subsidize big oil (drill baby drill) because opening up all these oil reserves will bring instant lower prices and of course a cleaner environment. Lest we forget we had the lead in alternative energy but gave it up for foreign oil dependence. Lets 'husband" the earth Rick "I fear science' Santorum says WHAT!?

                • 2 votes
                Reply#3 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:10 PM EST

                talkingtoyou55, why does it have to be one or the other with you, $hit4brains? Any reason why we can't develop our oil reserves and alternative energy. Ohio has something called the "fuel cell corridor." Ever heard of it? You have to get the crap out of your ears first, but it's out there. Ohio also has one the largest oil and natural gas discoveries in this country in 60 years, and guess what. They are working on both. Let's try to develop all of our resources instead of just the one you like.

                • 3 votes
                #3.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:00 PM EST
                Reply

                When the Israelis attack Iran, I project they will use 'dirty bombs' of some kind, that is, regular ordinance that has high levels of radioactive materials in them. They can't completely destroy Iran's nuclear capability, but they can create extremely contaminated 'no work zones' around the country where the nuclear bomb making goes on.

                  Reply#4 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:11 PM EST

                  If the Israelis dropped a dirty bomb on Iran it might send the message to their enemies that it is OK to drop on on the Israelis or to bring one in on a truck. I don't think the Israelis are that stupid, do you? Any military intervention is dangerous because not all of the potential targets are known.

                  • 4 votes
                  #4.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:19 PM EST
                  Reply

                  Linking the payroll tax cut, which is temporary, to rising oil prices, which may remain high for a long time, was not good politics. The President would be better off telling us how he plans to keep oil below $5.00 a gallon (for example, by bringing more Saudi oil in or using the strategic reserves again.)

                  Nobody likes the idea of extra cash in their pocket that's already been spent on gas.

                  • 4 votes
                  Reply#5 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:15 PM EST

                  Oil and carbon based fuels are also temporary they are finite sources which pollute. Investment in infinite sources (solar,wind, & geothermal) is the correct choice. When high gas prices existed in the 70s along with unsafe nuclear energy (Three-Mile Island) we started towards these sources but then Raygun put us back on the foreign oil bread line. When will we learn?Infinite energy sources makes us safer period.

                  • 3 votes
                  #5.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:26 PM EST

                  And the tax breaks and subsidies for wind farms has already been discontinued by this administration....so it would seem that there really isn't a commitment to renewable energy, but rather an issue of control-who will be in control of the energy available, whatever type it may be. And water power (remember the good old water wheels of eras gone by) is not even considered as a renewable energy source for our present government. I can see how hard we are exploring alternatives (Yeah, right!) This is about control and if it isn't control of your money, it will be control of your mobility.

                    #5.2 - Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:38 AM EST
                    Reply

                    "Investment in infinite sources (solar,wind, & geothermal) is the correct choice."

                    Investment= bribes to Obama campiagn contributors

                    infinite sources= high priced wasteful boondoggles like solar panels

                    • 5 votes
                    Reply#6 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:45 PM EST

                    No matter how much we use the oil reserves or get from the Saudis we will not produce more gasoline as refineries in this country are already running at full capacity. More oil will not solve the problem. I cannot emphasis enough that infinite energy sources are the solution now and in the future. No new refineries built in this country since the 70s, why? Could it be due to not wanting to meet EPA requirements? So big oil keeps expanding existing refineries under the grandfathering rule but production is limited. We're in the 21st century but we still rely on 19th century energy. PUULEESE!

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#7 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:48 PM EST

                    They are closing refineries around Philadelphia to push demand and prices higher. It would be nice to at least keep the refineries we have at this time.

                    • 5 votes
                    #7.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:50 PM EST

                    Could it be that there are no new refineries due to this administration's deliberate efforts to cripple the coal and oil industries in order to funnel monies to his contributors that push failed "green" start-ups???

                    • 1 vote
                    #7.2 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:45 PM EST

                    No new refineries since the 70s...ah how long has Obama been president? Pike your posts makes no sense but your blind hatred is evident and name all the "failed green start-ups" beside your tired Solyndra talking points.

                    • 2 votes
                    #7.3 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:00 PM EST

                    x

                      #7.4 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:02 PM EST

                      Don't recall mentioning Solyndra. And you didn't deny that Hussein deliberately crippled the oil and coal industries.

                      • 1 vote
                      #7.5 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:15 PM EST

                      Don't have to deny the president crippled any oil and coal industries they're doing that themselves. You can't address the real issue which is carbon based energy is inefficient, dirty, unsustainable and bad for our national security. You still haven't explained why no new refineries have gone on line since the 70s by the way Obama was a kid back then and we've had how many presidents? Your argument holds no water.

                      • 3 votes
                      #7.6 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:25 PM EST
                      Reply

                      Bob in V...no campaign contributions coming from big oil my are you the naive one. I've read your posts before and they lack any real logic or critical thinking...so get back on the horse you rode in on literally and figuratively.

                      New technology scares you or you believe in the corrupt practices of big oil ( the Koch bros).

                      • 3 votes
                      Reply#8 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:55 PM EST

                      The oil and gas industries are rolling in dough ladies and gentlemen of the right!!! Why because the President has given these people as many oil drilling permits (including another 50 billion worth approved in Nov of last year) as he can and yet gas prices are going up. It's all fake demand and fake speculation, and they (the oil speculators) are playing right into iran's clutches, because iran (which only supplies 10% of the worlds oil) can hold the US economy hostage with there rhetoric. Yeah the payroll tax cut helps a little (not a whole lot) to cover the cost but again this is not the fault of the President, because no matter if they built the keystone pipeline it would be built and then outsourced to the highest bidder (China and India) so that means transcanada is making billions while they use our land and America can still be susceptible to higher gas prices. Sometimes your hatred on the right is such that it clouds your common sense. But I predict once we get information that Iran will be attacked or not from israel then you will see the President open up the stratgic oil reserves by May.

                      • 2 votes
                      Reply#9 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:32 PM EST

                      Jeffrey, rumor has it that the Republicans are going to tie the strategic oil reserve to the Keystone Pipeline again. I'm not sure how that will work, but if he needs the approval of the Congress to open the reserves, this could be priceless.

                        #9.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:07 PM EST

                        ron Do you put allot of faith in rumors? Well bless your soul.

                        • 2 votes
                        #9.2 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:06 PM EST
                        Reply

                        Well Smitty, this is from Jake Tapper, a reporter for ABC. He asked this question of Jay Carney at the White House Press briefing.

                        " I was wondering if you have any reaction — Republicans are — I know you haven’t said that you’ll be tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but you have said it’s on the table. The president did it last summer. Republicans have legislation that would tie the president’s hands — would make him have to OK the Keystone pipeline in order for him to be able to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And I’m wondering if you have a reaction to that."

                        Would you like to know what Carney said, Smitty? I'll make it short for you. It's more than a rumor and the White House is worried about it.

                          Reply#10 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:18 PM EST

                          All the republican/tea bag party is just playing politics with this. When has it been said that the President was going to tap the reserve? Tell me where that tid bit came from. Seems like you have all the answers So explain it to us.

                          • 1 vote
                          #10.1 - Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:39 PM EST

                          Well Smitty, I put it in bold print. I guess that wasn't good enough for you. I'll try again. " I know you haven’t said that you’ll be tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but you have said it’s on the table. "

                          What does "on the table" mean to you $hitty, whoops, I mean Smitty? Slip of the keyboard. Sorry. You Democrat Scumbaggers get me all confused, You know how us Teabaggers are.

                          • 1 vote
                          #10.2 - Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:44 AM EST
                          Reply

                          Obama must have a spin doctor in the background to crank out nonsense comments that lead nowhere.

                          I mean, what did he really say. Great work Republicans....Now my people have $40.00 more to spend on my high gas prices??

                          Like saying the sun has just come up and will go down this evening. What a leader. LOL

                            Reply#11 - Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:55 AM EST
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