No wonder the Democrats don't support the gas tax holiday. They don't pay taxes like the rest of us on the fuel they're using. Since March, staffers working on the Democratic National Convention have been using the city of Denver's tax-free gas pumps to fill up their cars — and using its carwashes. A dispute about this prompted city officials Tuesday to promise that the local host committee will reimburse the city at a market rate for gas — and pay state and federal taxes on the fuel. It was never the intent of the city not to properly charge the Democrats for the fuel or its taxes, said Katherine Archuleta, mayoral liaison to the convention. Some Denver City Council members became angry when Denver public-works employee Christine Downs told them Tuesday that the host committee will reimburse the city for the carwashes and tax-free fuel it is using for its fleet of vehicles. Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz reacted sharply. She said she didn't think it was fair that local host-committee employees, as well as those with the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) who use those cars, are driving around on tax-free fuel. Given the DNC is $11 million short on its convention, the City Council might want to do a credit check before fronting any more fuel. Perhaps the DNC is using all the money it saves on taxes to buy offsets to reduce its carbon footprint without breaking the bank. Or maybe the money is going to the balloon budget. ...
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