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Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10:00 AM EDT
The Gas Tax and Our Energy Future
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Hillary Clinton and John McCain say they want to drop federal gas taxes for the summer. Barack Obama says no.

If you’re strapped for cash and struggling with higher food and energy prices, it can sound like a good idea. But step back just half an inch from presidential campaign follies, and the idea can look pretty ridiculous.

Obama calls it pandering and bad policy. But sometimes pandering works, even if it is bad policy.

This hour, On Point: we hear from all three campaigns and an energy economist on our energy future, and why they stand where they stand on the gas tax holiday.

-Tom Ashbrook

Guests:

Stephen Power, energy reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

Robert Pindyck, professor of economics and finance at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

Nancy Pfotenhauer, econmic advisor to Senator John McCain.

Gary Gensler, senior advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton.

Jason Grumet, senior energy advisor to Senator Barack Obama.

 

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