Political Quotes

“last year when we passed the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993, we adopted a fuel-dying scheme to ensure compliance with the new diesel fuel taxes on recreational vessels. On paper this requirement seemed rather simple. Recreational vessels would be required to purchase clear, taxed fuel and commercial vessels would be required to purchase dyed, tax-exempt fuel. Unfortunately, since the implementation of the dying scheme forces marina owners to sell two fuels, they must either buy a new fuel storage tank or sell only one fuel. Since most marinas cannot afford new tanks, they are losing business, and boaters across the country are having a hard time finding fuel. To resolve this problem, I, along with a number of my colleagues, am introducing legislation today, H.R. 4371, which would modify the collection of the new diesel fuel tax. Briefly, H.R. 4371 would allow any vessel--recreational or commercial--to purchase any color fuel. The marina owners would charge the tax at the pump instead of paying the tax at the wholesale level. This change gives boatowners and marinas the necessary flexibility to ensure that fuel will be available this summer.”