Gas-tax holiday is a bad idea for candidates to endorse

Two presidential candidates want to cancel the federal gas tax during the summer to limit "sacrifices" we must endure during wartime. Republican Sen. John McCain is in favor of it. Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton also favors it but would pay for it with a windfall profits tax on oil companies. Sen. Barack Obama is against it ("Talk heats up over gas tax moratorium," Electionline, News, Wednesday).

I strongly oppose the tax cancellation because it's a bad public policy that reeks of political pandering. It would encourage recreational consumption of gasoline. That is ecologically unsound and adds to global warming.

Some increased use would help foreign oil producers, while lowering tax revenue would increase the national debt.

And the purpose of the tax is to maintain our crumbling roads and bridges.

We, the American people, are able to tighten our belts for the public good. The sacrifices for the Iraq ...