The World Turned Upside Down

Even though the whole “Conservative Republicans are Skinflints; Liberal Democrats are Spendthrifts” meme has been largely (and shockingly) discarded in just five short years — maybe a bit more if you consider the balancing of the budget under Clinton — some things just make you wonder if they’re all wearing rubber masks of each other back in DC.

Most American taxpayers would get $100 rebate checks to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

[…] “Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they’re feeling at the pump,” Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday. […] Frist said the rebates would go to single taxpayers making less than $125,000 per year, and couples making less than $150,000.

What the –? Senate Republicans voting for a government payout to fight against market pressures that are driving up prices? Not since Nixon’s wage-price controls have we seen something like this.

Of course, the bill also has some “anti-gouging” provisions, and, inevitably, authorizes oil drilling in ANWR. Because you can’t swing a dead cat in the Senate without someone trying to tie ANWR drilling to its tail.

Frist is also quoted as saying, “Our free market system works, but it works best when there’s full accountability and full transparency.” That perhaps follows, rhetorically, from the anti-gouging provisions, but “government tax rebates” and “free market system” don’t seem to mesh all that well.

Fiscal responsibility aside, you’d think it might make more sense to reduce Federal gas taxes, to lower the price that folks are paying. Though, of course, that wouldn’t be nearly as dramatic as a $100 check. In (ahem) an election year.

(via DOF, who has his own choice comments)