Lethal Trajectories - Michael Conley [131]
“How long would it take to implement this system, and how do we pay for it?”
“To answer your second question first, Mr. President, we could fund it out of an additional gas tax of, say, one to two cents per gallon. The cost of the plan’s administration and infrastructure should not be borne by the consumer other than through this gas tax. As for an implementation timetable, I would think we could have it in place by January 1, 2018, assuming we get the green light within the next few days.”
“What happens in the meantime, Peter?”
“I don’t take what I’m about to say lightly, Mr. President, but the first stage of rationing has already begun, in the form of the prices at the pump. Pump prices are hovering in the $9 per gallon range today, which is already steeply reducing consumption. It’s a traumatic, inequitable, and unsustainable system, but it will reduce gasoline consumption in the interim. Spot shortages are now occurring as drivers top their tanks today in fear of empty pumps tomorrow.”
Clayton rubbed his eyes vigorously and then replied, “Again, I agree with you, but it’s an ugly scenario for average Americans. They’ll soon be pressuring their elected representatives for a quick fix—one that really doesn’t exist.”
“There are a couple of things we can do, Mr. President, to make it more palatable. First, the CIA report was quite clear on the metrics of drawing down our 422-million-barrel strategic petroleum reserve to supplement import shortages, but the drawdown would buy us a little time and ease the transition to the fully rationed environment we envision.”
Clayton thought about this approach, knowing it would buy America a few months. But he also knew there would be other demands on the SPR from Japan and other countries. And maybe even our own military if we get into an extended war, he thought. The thought was too awful to contemplate.
“What’s your other idea, Peter?”
“We might want to consider an immediate reduction in federal payroll taxes for the American worker. It could be means-tested or adjusted for location or industry, but the idea would be to give the American people—at least on a temporary basis—a larger amount of take-home pay through immediate tax relief. It could be used to help pay the higher gas prices and, perhaps, leave a buck or two for discretionary spending. It would have to be simple, direct, and immediate. I’d also consider tax credits for employers hit with higher operating costs due to fuel prices, but it would have to happen quickly in order for them to maintain internal cash flow.”
“Peter, with your ability to make deals, you should’ve been a politician. My hat’s off to you and your staff, and I like where you’re going with it. Now, where do we stand with the climate-change part?”
“We’re working equally hard, Clayton, er, I mean, Mr. President, on the climate-change component. We’ll have a strategic outline ready for your address to Congress, but the metrics and other fine details won’t be ready until year-end.”
Clayton pondered this before responding. “As long as I can integrate the guiding principles into my speech with enough substance to show it’s an integral part of the grand plan, we should be okay. I’d like to be able to say we’ll have a definitive climate strategy by early December. Can you deliver on that, Peter?”
“I can and I will, Mr. President,” Peter responded with a determination that surprised even the president. “We’ve done a lot of work on this already, and I’m sure I’ll borrow from what we did in California.”
“Could you give me a five-thousand-foot