House Republican Press Release

June 12, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. DelGobbo Votes for Gasoline Relief

Opposes $35 million tax on home sales that was extended for two years

Rep. Kevin M. DelGobbo, R-Naugatuck, has strongly supported and voted for legislation to give motorists some relief at the gas pumps. However, he said, the legislature should have done more and should have considered an alternative budget proposal.

Rep. DelGobbo voted for legislation that was adopted with bipartisan support to:

• block a scheduled July 1 increase in gasoline and diesel taxes,
• allow a cash discount by all gasoline retailers and
• make low-income people eligible for free, fuel-efficient heating systems.

Stopping the gas tax increase was first proposed on April 28 in an alternative budget co-authored by Rep. DelGobbo and again May 20 in a separate budget proposal. The legislative majority, while agreeing to halt a gas tax increase, failed to adopt other elements in the alternative budget, or even to allow it come up for debate.

 “We are glad that the legislative majority finally decided to do something about the gas tax increase,” said Rep. DelGobbo, “but we could have provided more relief to taxpayers and could have addressed the state’s economic and revenue slowdown.”

“People are hurting and struggling across the state,” he added. “We know that gas prices are strangling people’s ability to conduct their lives.”

DelGobbo noted that the Republican proposal also included a measure to stop the automatic rise in gas taxes which is included in current law. The Republican proposal would have capped the price against which the gross earning tax is calculated. Currently, as gas prices continue to rise, so too does the amount of tax the consumers pay. Legislative Democrats blocked the Republican plan.

“We are here, knowing the state budget as it exists today is in significant deficit,” Rep. DelGobbo said. “People are looking for leadership and asking, ‘What can we do?’

Rep. DelGobbo added, “Difficult as things are, there is another way we can proceed on the budget that provides more relief and faces up to the growing budget deficit.”

Conveyance Tax Opposed

Separately, Rep. DelGobbo opposed legislation that was adopted to extend for two years a $35 million tax on home sales that was scheduled to expire on July 1. Rep. DelGobbo had proposed a plan that would have saved home sellers the $35 million, but also protected municipalities that have come to depend on the tax.

“This is the wrong time to raise taxes,” said Rep. DelGobbo. “People are hurting when it comes to buying gasoline and trying to sell their homes. It is unconscionable to add to their misery by increasing state taxes on fuel and on home sales.”

Budget Alternative Proposed

Rep. DelGobbo said the legislative majority failed to act on a significant and growing deficit facing the state. Republicans again were blocked in attempting to bring up a budget alternative.

“The legislature is leaving here, knowing it will have to come back in the future and wreak havoc with future tax increases,” Rep. DelGobbo said.

The Democrats again voted to not even consider the Republican alternative budget that would have saved $155 million in payroll through an Early Retirement Incentive Program that restored critical spending cuts and provided a balanced budget:

· $20 million for the Early Reading Success program

· $2 million for added security at battered women shelters

· A COLA for the state’s private providers and struggling nursing homes.

Rep. DelGobbo is ranking member of the legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee. He serves the 70^th Assembly District of Naugatuck in the state House of Representatives.