U.S. Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky says he doesn't support the idea of temporarily suspending the federal gas tax this summer.Bunning's Senate colleagues John McCain and Hillary Clinton are touting the gas tax holiday in their presidential campaigns as a way to stimulate the economy and ease gas prices. Barack Obama opposes it.Bunning says lawmakers need to come up with a permanent solution."It's a short term fix for a long-term problem and it won't really relieve the pressure at the pump," he said.Kentucky's junior senator says lawmakers would also have to find a way to replace billions of dollars in federal transportation funds that would be lost if the 18-cent tax was lifted.Bunning is touting his own energy plan. He's co-sponsoring legislation that would increase domestic oil drilling and further invest in coal-to-liquid-fuels technology.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.