House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

May 14, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

House GOP Proposes Gas Tax Holiday

 

Representatives Belden, Miller & Harkins Support Proposal that Would Offer Relief from Gas Tax for Summer Months

 

HARTFORD- With retail gasoline prices jumping within the past few weeks, House Republicans are proposing to offer temporary relief from Connecticut’s high gasoline tax for Connecticut motorists.  Representatives Dick Belden (R- 113), Larry Miller (R-122) and John Harkins (R-120) joined House Republican Leader Larry Cafero (R- 142) today as he called for the state gas tax to be repealed this year between from Memorial Day, May 28th, until Labor Day, September 3rd, 2007, creating a one-time gas tax holiday. 

 

Connecticut’s gasoline tax is 25 cents per gallon, and a suspended gas tax would save the driver of a compact car with a 13.2 gallon tank about $3.30 on every fill-up.  The driver of an SUV with a 22.5 gallon tank would save $5.63 when they fill their tank. 

 

“Our state has the third highest gas tax burden in the nation,” said Representative Belden.  “During the highest volume driving season, it is appropriate to give motorists a break.”

 

“With the budget surplus now projected at nearly $900 million, we have clearly overtaxed Connecticut resident,” said Representative Miller.  “This one-time tax holiday will give back some of that money to the people who earned it.”

 

“This tax holiday means significant savings every time you fill up your gas tank,” said Representative Harkins.  “It also eliminates the tax on diesel fuel, so it will benefit business, and ultimately our economy, as well as every motorist driving in the state this summer. This kind of tax relief is too easy to pass up, and should be implemented immediately.”

 

It is estimated that the tax cuts would save drivers about $40 million per month, or a little more than $120 million for the duration of the summer driving period.  Last week, the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis revised revenue projections to show that Connecticut now has a surplus of $846 this year, easily covering the lost revenue to the state.  The House Republican ‘No Tax Increase’ budget utilizes $619 of the budget surplus, and adding the $120 million for the Gas Tax Holiday still leaves a surplus of $227 million under the GOP plan.

 

The legislators noted that the proposed Gas Tax Holiday would not impact the Special Transportation Fund which is used to fund bridge and road projects.

 

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourns at midnight June 6th, 2007.