[P-hack]

Sorry this is obviously political, but while considering things like personal responsibility (and users of gasoline actually bearing the full costs instead of sharing the cost of excess usage with all tax payers) I thought it was worth mentioning. $10 billion/year is nothing to sneeze at. Yes it will be reflected in the cost of shipped goods, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Nor does it mean taxes will be reduced, but less deficit isn't bad either if that is how it plays out. bla bla bla. In any event it should lead to more efficient use of fuel in the US by consumers (and maybe less consumerism) and maybe less hysteria about alternate transportation options.

Today’s news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.):

End Big Oil Tax Breaks: As congressional budget negotiators look for ways to lower deficits, Sen. Sanders and Rep. Keith Ellison have introduced a bill that would cut tax subsidies to oil, gas and coal industries. Ellison said the bill would cut tax breaks, close loopholes and end taxpayer-funded fossil fuel research. This is a long shot, despite estimated savings of $100 billion-plus over 10 years, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The fossil fuel lobby helped end some ethanol subsidies. Ethanol blends accounts for about 10 percent of U.S. gasoline sales. The White House 2014 budget proposal calls for eliminating several of the provisions cited in the Sanders-Ellison bill.