House Republican Press Release

June 6, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER CAFERO WELCOMES DEMOCRATS ON BOARD GAS TAX TRAIN; QUESTIONS HOW THEY PAY FOR IT

HARTFORD – House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., today praised Democrats for embracing the Republican proposal to roll back the scheduled gas tax hike on July 1, but cautioned that the majority party has not disclosed how to replace the lost revenue.

“We welcome them to the debate that they have trying to avoid since we put forth our Republican alternative budget on April 28,’’ Cafero said. “We put proposed a balanced budget that provides relief at the gas pump and restores cuts to other programs. The Democrats have now decided that they intend to roll back the scheduled tax increase because of public and political pressure, but they have yet to say how they intend to pay for it.’’

Cafero said that raising other taxes to cut the gas tax is not the answer. Republicans have a four-point gas tax proposal:

• Eliminate the scheduled .5 percent increase on gross receipts;
• Cap the price at which the gross receipts is calculated on;
• Reduce the price by at least 10 cents per gallon through a summer state gas tax holiday;
• Allow gas stations to provide price cuts for motorists paying cash.

Cafero said Republicans are prepared once again to offer their entire budget during the scheduled June 11 special session that also cuts the state real estate conveyance tax and restores $20 million for school reading programs and $27 million for nursing homes and other providers. These would be funded through a cost-saving Early Retirement Incentive Program for state employees that would yield an additional $155 in the first year.

“The Democrats have tried to avoid this debate for weeks. Now they have decided that Connecticut consumers really do need a break. Better late than never but let’s wait and see how they actually want to pay for this,’’ Cafero said.