In my first official post as a Menendez for Senate staffer, I'm really excited to announce the launch of StandUpToBigOil.com. As many of you have probably heard by now, Senator Menendez is fighting back against Big Oil and their allies in the Republican Congress. The Menendez plan will force Big Oil to foot the bill for a 60-day suspension of the federal gas tax to ease the burden of outrageous prices at the pump. Senator Reid and the DSCC have been touting the Menendez plan for a few weeks now, and it really seems to be gaining traction.
Here's the proposal, in a nutshell. As both retail gas prices trend upward with no relief in site, the federal gas tax -- currently $0.184 per gallon -- would be suspended for 60 days, ideally during the traditionally high-priced summer driving months. This tax holiday would be revenue neutral, however, as it's paid for by a repeal of the tax breaks and corporate welfare Republicans have made sure to protect for their cronies in Big Oil. Even though word of the Menendez proposal has made its way around the netroots, this is an important point that's been too often overlooked. Senator Menendez is going to stand up to Big Oil and make them pay for real relief at the pump.
And this proposal is only the first step in a comprehensive, three-part platform that also holds Big Oil accountable and will help move America to a less oil-dependent economy. Senator Menendez is also the co-sponsor of an amendment in the Senate, along with Bill Nelson, to provide funding for a serious effort to pursue a sustainable, long-term energy policy. That amendment would dedicate $3 billion to initiatives promoting the development of sustainable energy resources like biofuels, switching the federal fleet over to flex-fuel and hybrid vehicles, and reducing emissions at federal facilities. Senator Menendez's commitment to a comprehensive sustainable energy policy is one of the centerpieces of this campaign.
We're going to have a full re-launch of our campaign site soon, but in the meantime, check out what we've been working on at StandUpToBigOil.com. In addition to information about the Menendez plans for short-term relief and long-term reform, we've also got some helpful links and data on saving money on fuel costs as well as ways we can all stand up to Big Oil by reporting price gouging in our own neighborhoods. Perhaps most importantly, you can also sign on to our petition supporting the idea of making Big Oil pay to help out the folks who've provided them with the record profits they've been enjoying so much.
