For Immediate ReleaseApril 22, 2008Contact: Dr. P. Kelly HatfieldPhone: 908-522-1455   kellyhatfield@hatfield2008.com Hatfield Urges Congress to “Keep Americans Mobile” This Vacation Season New Jersey Would Benefit by Feds Suspending Tax on Gasoline 

Summit- “Suspending the tax on gas and diesel fuels from Memorial Day to Labor Day this year is certainly worthy of consideration by congress,” said Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield, Republican candidate for New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. “Just last week gasoline prices in New Jersey reached an all time high with no visible relief anywhere in sight,” she pointed out saying “New Jersey residents would definitely benefit from this type of an action from Congress.”

“The summer driving season will soon be upon us and many more people are expected to head for the Jersey shore this year as opposed to traveling further to more pricey vacation spots simply because it costs so much to fill the tank. With even a modest savings at the pumps families would be more likely to spend a bit more on entertainment such as an extra dinner out or a night with the kids on the boardwalk putting money into the local economy.” Explaining that travel and tourism is important to New Jersey’s economy Hatfield pointed to the Travel Industry Association of America’s findings that spending by travelers and visitors to NJ accounts for roughly 25 % of revenues at family and casual-dining restaurants. “These establishments provide jobs for thousands of NJ residents and tourism related jobs account for more than 11% of the total employment in the state so anything that would help attract out of state tourists and encourage our own residents to day trip would be a plus,” Dr. Hatfield said.

Pointing out that taxpayers will start receiving their checks from the Federal Government just in time for the tourist season here in the Garden State Hatfield said what better way to compliment those checks than to suspend the tax on fuel. “The timing is perfect,” she said. “The intent of the Economic Stimulus Package is to give Americans more money to spend and by their spending it at the New Jersey shore or other of the Garden State’s tourist attractions would certainly give our state’s economy a much needed shot in the arm. “ Results of a recent state study on tourism showed that visitors from other states represented 66% of tourism expenditures and that 71 cents of those dollars stayed here in NJ.  “Out-of-State travelers have long recognized that NJ with our great beaches and beautiful mountain vistas is a wonderful vacation destination for families, a little bit of help from Congress to keep Americans mobile and vacationing in NJ this summer would certainly go a long way,” she stated.

Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield, an advocate for families and small businesses, is a proven leader in the fight for lower taxes and possesses 15+ years of Public Service experience. She has a proven track record fighting for lower taxes and of winning elections. She has shown that she is the candidate best suited to take on and beat tax and spend Linda Stender in the fall.

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