Clinton touts gas tax in Greenville

How come Clinton-partisan Mike Easley has no problem being honest about this subject, but our reporters at the N&O are unable to honestly report on this issue to their readers? Seriously.

BREAKING NEWS: "For the second time in two days, Hillary Clinton has attempted to mislead North Carolina voters by when touting her plan to eliminate the federal gas tax. Even Governor Mike Easley, who has endorsed Clinton, has explained to constituents that removing the gas tax will fail to reduce prices for consumers."

It's right there for you, RTB. Stop being a coward and hit that softball out of the park!

I e-mailed Governor Easley's office over the weekend and asked if he supported Senator Clinton's call for a gas tax holiday. Below is the response I received from the governor's office this morning:

Thank you for writing the Office of the Governor. Governor Easley remains concerned about the rising cost of automotive fuel. The gas tax rate is =20 capped currently at 29.9 cents per gallon. It has not changed in two years.

However, cutting the gas tax further at this time would jeopardize road construction and may not benefit consumers. Oil companies and retail merchants testified before a legislative committee that they cannot guarantee that any reduction in the gas tax would be passed along to their consumers. The spike at the pump is due to gas prices not gas taxes.

The Governor understands and shares the frustration that many North Carolinians feel as gas prices remain at historically high prices. Governor Easley has joined several other governors to ask the federal government for relief. He has also asked for a federal investigation into the soaring profits of oil companies. Please contact your federally elected representatives with your concerns on the price of fuel at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

Thank you,

Office of the Governor