2014 SD Senate debate: on Energy & Oil

Gordon Howie: No subsidies for wind and solar

Howie: Strongly Disagree

Gordon Howie: Congress should pass laws benefiting the oil & gas industry

Former Sen. Larry Pressler said he would vote for an immediate increase 12 cents per gallon in the gas tax. Two other candidates, Mike Rounds and Rick Weiland, didn't rule out an increase in the gas tax, but said other solutions need to be tried first.

Independent Gordon Howie said he opposes raising the gas tax--and especially proposals to tie it to the rate of inflation. Instead, he said, Congress should pass laws benefiting the oil and gas industry, which he said would result in higher tax revenue as the industry booms.

"Some estimates have predicted that with pro-growth policies, the industry could bring in an additional $800 billion in revenue over the next 15 years," Howie said.

Larry Pressler: Immediate increase of 12 cents per gallon in the gas tax

The federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon was last raised in 1993, and has lost more than a quarter of its purchasing power since that time. As vehicles become more fuel efficient and road construction becomes more expensive, the federal Highway Trust Fund is facing bankruptcy in May.

Former Sen. Larry Pressler, running as an independent, said he would vote for an immediate increase 12 cents per gallon in the gas tax.

"I know any tax increases are politically unpopular, but we absolutely must rebuild our nation's highways, and we cannot add any more to the national debt," Pressler said in a statement.

Two other candidates didn't rule out an increase in the gas tax, but said other solutions need to be tried first.

Mike Rounds: Tax energy exploration on federal land instead of gas tax

"I know any tax increases are politically unpopular, but we absolutely must rebuild our nation's highways, and we cannot add any more to the national debt," Pressler said in a statement.

Two other candidates didn't rule out an increase in the gas tax, but said other solutions need to be tried first. "Until we exhaust every other option, I wouldn't consider a gas tax increase--especially with this administration in control of the money," Republican Mike Rounds said in a statement. Rounds said he would prefer to look at "spending reforms, alternative revenue options such as revenue from energy exploration on federal lands" or "reforms that provide greater flexibility to the states and local contractors."

Democrat Rick Weiland said he wouldn't "ask any South Dakotan to pay more taxes on gasoline."

Rick Weiland: End subsidies to big oil companies, instead of gas tax

"Until we exhaust every other option, I wouldn't consider a gas tax increase--especially with this administration in control of the money," Republican Mike Rounds said in a statement. Rounds said he would prefer to look at "spending reforms, alternative revenue options such as revenue from energy exploration on federal lands" or "reforms that provide greater flexibility to the states and local contractors."

Democrat Rick Weiland said he wouldn't "ask any South Dakotan to pay more taxes on gasoline." Instead, Weiland said Congress should raise money by eliminating "subsidies" and "tax loopholes" to "big oil companies and other huge corporations." An increase in the gas tax, Weiland said, would be on the table only after "asking big corporations to pay their fair share" and providing people with more money in the form of a minimum wage increase.

Rick Weiland: Opposes Keystone XL pipeline

A campaign adviser said Weiland is framing his push for a public option as essentially support for allowing the public to buy into Medicare, which is popular with seniors, and his opposition to Keystone XL is appealing to farmers & ranchers who know it could hurt their water supply.