OREANDA-NEWS. Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives this week will get their chance to go on record opposing President Barack Obama's proposal to add a $10.25/bl tax onto petroleum products.

House speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) declared the oil tax as "dead on arrival" soon after it was proposed it in February. Congress has given no indication it was seriously considering the tax, which was designed to pay for new infrastructure spending. But the upcoming vote will let rank-and-file Republicans oppose higher gasoline taxes ahead of the November elections.

The House plans to vote as soon as 9 June on a resolution that says Congress opposes new taxes on oil. The resolution raises concerns that the tax would drive up retail gasoline prices and contribute to further layoffs in the "struggling oil and gas industry."

The Republican majority in the House should have enough votes to easily approve the resolution, which is non-binding. But the vote will force vulnerable Democrats to go on record on an Obama-endorsed plan that is politically controversial because of its potential to increase federal gasoline taxes by 25?/USG.

House Republicans this week also plan to vote on another non-binding resolution opposing the creation of a carbon tax, a long-shot proposal that has almost no chance of advancing this Congress. The resolution raises concern that a carbon tax would increase energy prices and fall hardest on the poor.

The two symbolic votes come as Congress finds it increasingly difficult to advance legislation. The House on 26 May failed to pass an energy and water appropriations bill after Democrats attached an provision prohibiting federal contracts from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender. Democrats plan to attach similar amendments to other appropriations bills.