Kennedy gas pump ad sparks reaction

Senate candidate Mark Kennedy's new TV calling for a crack down on oil company tax breaks has Democrats crying fowl.

The fast-paced, slickly produced 30-second TV ad hit the airwaves this week, featuring the Republican Congressman standing next to a gas pump.

"Growing up I pumped gas at a station like this, but the pumps have changed.?

In the ad Kennedy calls for suspending the 18.3 cent per gallon federal gasoline tax, translating to an instant savings at the pump.

"Congressman Kennedy's clearly reacting to the high price of gasoline," political analyst Steve Smith told KARE-TV Thursday.

The Washington University professor points out that federal tax goes into a trust fund for highways and mass transit.

"It doesn't just go into the federal general fund," commented Smith, "And so we might ask whether it's counterproductive to reduce the funding for highways and mass transit when we're trying to improve our general energy picture."

But the part of the ad that sparked an instant reaction from Kennedy's opposition was his call to, "Take tax breaks away from oil companies, to promote alternative fuels."

The issue Democrats have with that statement, and the image of "Mark at the Pump" in general, is that Congressman Kennedy voted for the 2005 Energy bill which included at least $2.8 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas.

DFL state chairman Brian Melendez attacked Kennedy's voting record on tax breaks for the petroleum industry at a Capitol news conference Tuesday. And Kennedy's Democrat opponent, Hennepin County Attorney, was asked about it Thursday.

"It's gonna be up to the people of Minnesota to decide," Klobuchar answered when asked about the ad.

"What I think they need to do is look at his record, look how he's voted on oil companies taxes."

Klobuchar, in St Paul to outline her homeland security plan, pointed out that she's been on record for months with an energy platform that features cuts to oil company tax breaks. She's also proposed a 20% renewable fuel standard and raising minimum fuel efficiency standards for new cars.

Kennedy was campaigning in Northern Minnesota Thursday, but his campaign spokesperson Heidi Frederikson defended his vote on the 2005 Energy bill.

"Well this was a comprehensive energy bill that had actually been blocked by the Senate Democrats for 4 years," Frederickson explained to KARE-TV.

"But nonetheless it contained provisions to double ethanol which is very good for Minnesota agriculture."

She went on to say the Congressman, while accepting the tax breaks as the cost of gaining a comprehensive energy bill, now wants to strip the oil companies of their tax breaks.

"That?s why he introduced a bipartisan bill with Mark Udall of Colorado to redirect those tax incentives, $2.5 billion away from the oil industry and use it to double ethanol."

"The story is mixed," says Professor Smith, when it comes to Mark Kennedy's record on energy.

Smith analyzed many of Kennedy's votes on amendments relating to the energy legislation as well as some stand-alone bills. For example, Kennedy bucked the Bush Administration by opposing oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

"Congressmen have an opportunity to single themselves out," remarked Smith, "In the case of ANWR Congressman Kennedy does so by voting against drilling in ANWR."

But on the issue of raising fuel efficiency standards for new cars, Kennedy opposed it.

"When Democrats proposed that we tighten restrictions for vehicle fuel efficiency 36 Republicans supported the amendment but not Congressman Kennedy," said Smith.

"On an amendment that would lower dependence on imported oil he chooses to go with his party and the administration."

"So the story really is mixed here, and it?s a complicated one, one that can never be explained adequately in a political ad."

By John Croman, KARE 11 News.

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