Get your facts straight, especially in a Top Post. Also, something you have missed entirely: a gas tax BREAK would help all consumers, not just the wealthy, as mr bush's tax breaks have & did. Passing such a break would also send a message to the oil companies that it's time to cut back on the excessive profits. And to answer your question below, not sure how any monies saved would go back specifically (the second time, that is, beyond the first-time savings in price paid at the pump) to the consumer in Clinton's or McCain's plans this time around but in the late 70s & early 80s, when the Excess Profits "fee" / tax was legislated first under Carter & then kept alive under a reluctant Ronald Reagan BY THE CONGRESS, the DOE sent large checks to every state's Energy Office or Energy Conservation Office. I remember seeing one for $ 11 million dollars at our state's office here, and that was from just one oil company - Amoco. The State Energy Offices distributed the monies as each state's legislature decided was equitable; in our state, non-profits, universities & colleges had to make proposals to the OEC office & compete for the funds. It was a great success, in most states that I'm aware of. In our state, the OEC office kept track of how many citizens were affected by the programs funded by the distributed monies & the numbers were significant.Again, not sure specifically how the current plans would be designed.