NC Democrats Trot Out Plan To Send Drivers $200 For Gas

This is really all for show. The GOP controls the general assembly. Will they go for it? Or are the Democrats simply attempting to say “look, we’re offering up A Plan”?

NC democrats discuss potential gas refund for drivers

Senate Democrats are proposing sending a rebate check to drivers across the state to help with the rising cost of gas.

Under a bill filed this week, all adults with a valid North Carolina driver’s license as of March 31 would get a check or debit card for $200.

“The top, top issue we’re hearing is about food prices, gas prices, that they cannot afford anything. So, I think we would really be doing a disservice to the people of North Carolina if we gaveled out of this short session and do absolutely nothing about it,” said Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham County).

Democrats propose using $1.3 billion of the state’s anticipated $4.2 billion surplus this year to pay for their plan.

“We know that this is something the state can afford,” Murdock said. “I just think it’s very difficult to deny folks the funding they need to feed their families and to survive when we have such a great surplus.”

It would equate to, at the moment, about 46 gallons of gas. Many economists say this is better than suspending the state gas tax, which pays for the roads (our roads are actually pretty good). The better option would be to build more energy sources, including regular and natural gas wells. How about authorizing a refinery and nuclear energy? Of course, because the federal government is way too involved in state affairs, they would, at best, take forever to authorize. Most likely they would simply nix any attempt.

Lauren Horsch, a spokesperson for Republican Senate leader Phil Berger, was critical of the rebate idea.

“A one-time rebate that doesn’t cover the average additional monthly cost of Biden’s inflation is nothing more than a band-aid. If we want to help North Carolinians afford their everyday expenses, we should focus on real long-term, permanent tax relief,” she wrote in an email.

I’ll be honest, tax relief can only go so far with Brandonflation.

In his budget proposal earlier this month, Gov. Cooper did not suggest any tax cuts. He did call for additional raises for state workers, putting more money into reserve funds and various other changes to the budget.

So, Cooper is basically looking to hook up a bunch of his donors and voters. In fairness, the average salary for a NC government worker is $46,910, while the private sector is $56,518. In a lot of states, and with the federal government, the public sector employees typically make more than the private sector. But, really, should government workers be making more than private sector? Anyhow, if Democrats want to do something like a rebate, and Republicans agree, make it $400 if there is going to be that much of a budget surplus. Cut the gas tax, which is $0.385 per gallon for regular and diesel, in half. Heck, how about this: cut the tax for diesel for work vehicles for the rest of the year, which would help alleviate some of the costs associated with deliveries.

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