WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush, in Tuesday's State of the Union address, will propose a plan to cut U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent while bolstering inventory in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Republican sources say.
The president's plan to cut gasoline use includes tightening fuel economy standards on automakers and relying on alternative energy sources, such as hybrid cars, the sources say.
Bush would propose achieving the 20-percent cut in gasoline use in the next 10 years, according to the sources. He'll say increasing the reserve will give the nation a reliable oil backup in times of crisis, the sources say.
On other topics, Bush will propose a balanced federal budget by 2012, and will call for members of Congress to cut pet projects from appropriations.
Health care, Social Security, AIDS in Africa, and, of course, Iraq are expected to be addressed during what is expected to be about a 50-minute speech. Full coverage of the speech will begin on CNN at 7 p.m. ET.
RE: Bush to call for 20 percent cut in gasoline use
Interesting.
My wife and I have considered buying a Toyota Prius which gets about 50 miles per gallon in city driving (no better gas mileage, maybe even worse, on the open highway). When we run the calculations about how much extra it costs relative to an equivalent gas powered car, the pay off is just too far down the road to make it a prudent investment. I think I last made the calculation at $3/gallon; the calculation is yet less attractive with gas now at below $2/gallon. The calculations included a $3,000 tax incentive. I think I assumed a battery replacement at 60,000 miles was probably likely and would cost in the neighborhood of $3,000. (These numbers and mileages are only what my dubious memory holds today and may be bogus!) We keep it in mind though. I think it is an attractive looking car. It drives well (I had occasion to ride around in one owned by a colleague at one our San Jose site). I am a big believer in the reliability of Toyotas, since we have a 1998 Toyota Corolla with 140,000 miles on it that has given excellent service and is still driving strong. It just has to make economic sense, and maybe there will be some tax incentives going forwards to coax people in the desired direction.
I also wonder what could be in store for my wife and I because our other vehicle is a Chevrolet Suburban that uses a lot of gasoline. Will we be penalized? Will any disincentives be applied only going forwards or will they be retroactive? Will we be forced to walk around in public with a placard hanging around out neck "I DRIVE A GAS GUZZLER! I AM CREATING TOO MUCH GLOBAL WARMING INDUCING GREEN HOUSE GAS!" Or maybe we will have to wear a scalret "GG" on the front of our clothes?
Well, I'm making some fun in this last paragraph. If done right, government can accomplish good things by gently steering people in the right direction. Fuel efficiency is an unadulterated good, again so long as it is encouraged in the proper fashion.
RE: Bush to call for 20 percent cut in gasoline use
BillyMack: Maybe 20% over 10 years is not pointless, but suppose you are correct. Unfortunately I think it is the nature of politics that one can score a lot of points with the populace with such empty gestures. I think much of what the Democrats are about boils down to posturing and empty gestures. For example, it would seem that they think that raising the minimum wage is going to substantially alter the economic condition of the lower classes. Maybe it looks good on TV, but I don't think the economic condition of the lower classes will change one bit as a result of changing the minimum wage. I think the very same charge can be leveled at Gun Control legislation: posturing and posing and creating the grand appearance of addressing solving crime problems while in fact nothing material is accomplished. I don't see how Roe v. Wade and abortion rights have materially impacted the condition of women in the United States, and yet the Democrats posture and pose as if this constitutes the emancipation proclamation for women! I don't get that. Now . . . I leave it as an exercise to our Democrat favoring members to cite equivalent posturing and empty acts of our Republican officials, I'm sure they are playing the same game as the Democrats in this regard.
Bush to call for 20 percent cut in gasoline use
