May 13, 2003

**Americans Need Their Tax Burden Lifted,**

**NOT SHIFTED!**

**Join** John Shadegg, Chris Cannon, Mike Pence, Rob Bishop, Joel
Hefley, Roscoe Bartlett, Jim DeMint, Pat Toomey, Barbara Cubin, Chris
Smith, Duke Cunningham, Jeb Hensarling, Trent Franks, Jeff Flake, John
Kline

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# Sign the Musgrave letter, Oppose the Gas Tax Increase

Dear Colleague:

This year, House Republicans have been fighting hard to lower the tax
burden. Now is not the time to undermine our efforts by imposing a big
gas tax hike.

Please join our effort to protect the American taxpayer, sign the
**Musgrave Gas Tax Opposition Letter**.

-   The current federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.

-   State taxes on gasoline average just over 22 cents.

-   This represents an annual tax burden of \$660 for the average family

-   Every penny increase in the gas tax increases that family's annual
    tax bill by \$25.

-   If a 5.4 cent increase in the gas tax is enacted, each family could
    see its yearly tax burden **increase by \$135**.

-   The total gas tax incurred by each family annually would be almost
    \$800.

Furthermore, a decision to index the gas tax to inflation would impose
an automatic tax increase to these families each year.

As Republicans work to pass tax relief in President Bush's Economic
Growth Proposal, it is counterproductive to increase the national gas
tax.

To sign to the **Musgrave Gas Tax Opposition Letter** (text on back),
please call Krista at 54676.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Musgrave

Defend American Taxpayers, sign the Musgrave Gas Tax Opposition Letter!

May XX, 2003

The Honorable Dennis Hastert

Speaker of the House of Representatives

H232 Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Hastert:

Thank you for your strong advocacy on behalf of taxpayers across the
United States. Your leadership is vital to the ongoing efforts to reduce
the tax burden on American citizens and to the long overdue reform of
the tax code. However, we are concerned about the growing efforts of
Congress to raise the gasoline tax.

Current proposals to raise the gas tax are ill timed and are not helpful
to the efforts by you and others to pass the President's Economic Growth
Proposal and institute much needed tax relief for the American people.
While the war in Iraq came to a quick and decisive end, there still
remains much uncertainty in the Middle East. Due to this uncertainty,
the market for gasoline remains volatile and prices could increase with
any fluctuations in the price of crude oil.

As you know, the current federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon. State
taxes on gasoline average just over 22 cents, according to the Federal
Highway Administration. The combined state and federal gas taxes amount
to more than \$50 billion annually in taxes. This represents an annual
tax burden of \$660 for the average family, and every penny increase in
the gas tax increases that family's annual tax bill by \$25. If a 5.4
cent increase in the gas tax is enacted, each family could see their
yearly tax burden increase by \$135. The total gas tax incurred by each
family annually would be almost \$800.

Furthermore, a decision to index the gas tax to inflation would impose
an automatic tax increase to these families each year.

As Republicans work to pass tax relief in President Bush's Economic
Growth Proposal, and as Republicans make efforts to put a lid on federal
spending, it is

counterproductive to increase the national gas tax.

[Therefore, we will oppose any and all efforts to raise or index the
gasoline tax.]{.underline} We remain committed to work with President
Bush and the Republican Leadership to reduce the overall tax burden on
the American people.

**Please call Krista at 54676 to sign the Musgrave Gas Tax Opposition
Letter!**