Fuel tax is political cash cow

To the editor:

In his recent letter, Robert Turley asked an interesting question: Where have our elected officials been with the fuel issue? They have been in the pockets of the environmental wackos.

No new refineries have been approved in more than 30 years, no drilling offshore, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or other major oil reserves, There have been no nuclear plants and restrictions on wind power. Our officials want to pander to the environmentalists, and they do not want to lose the state and federal taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel.

Exxon/Mobil makes a profit of about 10 cents a gallon on gasoline. The federal government makes 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents a gallon on diesel. Missouri makes 17.6 cents a gallon on gasoline and 18.6 cents a gallon on diesel. My state of residence, California, makes 45.5 cents a gallon on gasoline and 47.6 cents a gallon on diesel.

Any sane person knows our money-addicted elected officials will not give up this cash cow. They accuse oil companies of windfall profits. Ha!

BILL PALMER, Bakersfield, Calif.