House Republican Press Release

May 23, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

HOUSE DEMOCRATS BLOCK REPUBLICAN GAS TAX CUT

Republicans Vow to Fight on to Provide Relief from Record Setting Gas Prices

HARTFORD – House Democrats refused to cut gasoline prices by 25 cents per gallon today when they resorted to legislative tactics to block the Republicans’ proposed Gas Tax Holiday that would provide millions of motorists much needed relief at the pump.

As promised, House Republicans presented an amendment to impose a three-month Gas Tax Holiday for the peak summer driving season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The 25 cents per gallon that the state charges would be rolled back to zero and save motorists a total of $120 million. Republicans proposed the plan May 14 and said it could easily be paid for out of a newly discovered $846 million budget surplus.

 “When the Democrats had the chance to finally do something for taxpayers and anyone who drives in Connecticut they said ‘No.’ The Democrats are now on record as saying they don’t care about lowering the price of gasoline, even if its just for three months,’’ said State Rep. Michael Caron, R-Killingly, Plainfield, Sterling.

“The Democrats have temporarily thwarted the will of the people by denying them a much-needed break at the pumps. I’m still hopeful that we can push this through if there is public pressure applied from outside the Capitol and through budget negotiations within the Capitol,” Caron said.

“Northeastern Connecticut has some of the highest gasoline prices in the state," said State Rep. Mike Alberts, R-Brooklyn, Eastford, Hampton, Pomfret, Woodstock  "The distance from terminals in New Haven to Brooklyn, Pomfret, and Putnam translates into higher transportation costs that are in turn passed on to area consumers.”

Rep. Alberts said, “Our state's gross receipt tax on petroleum products, our state sales tax rate of twenty-five cents per gallon, and high transportation costs have created an unacceptable burden on the backs of area residents. We had a unique opportunity to provide some temporary relief to area constituents without any sacrifice of state programs, but we were thwarted in our efforts. I do expect House Republicans, myself included, to be relentless in our pursuit of a Gas Tax Holiday."

As soon as Republicans introduced the gas tax amendment to a bill on the House floor on May 23, the Democratic leadership immediately withdrew the legislation, thereby preventing debate and sparing Democrats from casting a vote against the gas tax holiday.

Republicans noted that no transportation programs would be affected and lost revenue would simply be replaced by state surplus money. Governor M. Jodi Rell also supported the idea. She has repeatedly said that if the legislature does not go along, she and her fellow Republicans will use gas tax proposal in the budget negotiations that have just begun.