Obama camp hits gas tax issue on a multi-state stage

Councilman David Tandy

LOUISVILLE -- Positioned between two large steel-frame bridges spanning the Ohio River, Louisville Metro Councilman David Tandy took up the attack on a proposed gas tax moratorium at an afternoon press conference today on behalf of Senator Barack Obama.

In front of a handful of reporters gathered at the waterfront Harbor Lawn park - just off the banks of the Kentucky side of the Ohio River - Tandy argued the three-month "tax holiday" proposed by both Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton would wreak havoc on Kentucky by sapping money and jobs from transportation budgets.

"We are here next to the bridges to underscore how this particular policy relates to the working men and women in Kentucky and southern Indiana," said Tandy. "This proposed McCain-Clinton gas tax moratorium would jeopardize over 4,000 jobs in the state of Kentucky alone...It would cost the state of Kentucky over $123 million of needed necessary road money that would be used to repair the roads we have in Kentucky, to build bridges similar to the ones we have behind us, and that is money that would be diverted away from any solutions as it relates to our mass transit system."

Tandy was careful to mention Indiana in his remarks several times. The event was held just across the river from that state, where voters will head to the polls tomorrow to vote in their own Democratic Presidential Primary. Many of the media outlets represented at the event also cover the southern Indiana region.

Tandy went on to analogize the proposal to what he said were older political traditions.

"I'm reminded, especially here in Kentucky, back in the days when politicians used to try to...buy votes from voters by offering them a pint of whiskey and a baloney sandwich on election day," said Tandy. "This McCain-Clinton gas tax moratorium smacks of the old Washington-Style politics that are used oftentimes to try and win elections, but really do nothing for the needs of voters here in Kentucky and in southern Indiana."

The Councilman charged Clinton and McCain's gas tax holiday would ultimately result in $30 worth of benefits for American motorists.

"Senator Obama is trying to not just offer a piece of cake during election year, but offer real solutions as it relates to them trying to make their ends meet," said Tandy.

He went on to stress that Obama's plan would offer $500 middle-class tax credits to individuals and $1000 credits to families, while also claiming Obama would pursue domestically available alternative fuels and the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Tandy is also a representative of the three-person "Kentucky Truth Squad" assembled last week by the Obama campaign to combat "misleading remarks and attacks" on the Illinois Senator and his record.

The event was one of two held in Kentucky today. Another press conference was held in the western Kentucky town of Owensboro. There, Obama surrogate and former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus took a similar line against the gas tax moratorium.

"Voters are sick and tired of Washington political gimmicks like the McCain-Clinton gas tax holiday proposal. Kentuckians understand the critical need for highway funds for their bridges and roads," said Mabus, according to a statement released from the Obama campaign.