House Republican Press Release

July 25, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Scribner: Special Session Should Be Called for Governor’s Fuel Initiative

HARTFORD- State Representative David Scribner (R-Brookfield) today issued a call for a special session of the Connecticut General Assembly to address rising energy and fuel costs.  The Brookfield legislator, who serves as the Ranking Member of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, noted that the gross receipts tax on fuel was producing far more revenue for the state than anticipated, and expressed his hope to see taxpayers get a break.  Governor M. Jodi Rell called for such a special session last week.

“The combined state and federal tax in Connecticut is now 60 cents per gallon, and with the hidden gross receipts tax on top of it, our state has the highest combined tax on gasoline than any other state in the Northeast,” noted Scribner.  “When you add in the $200 million we have taken in versus the $80 million projected with a budget surplus of nearly $1 billion, you can see that Connecticut residents are paying too much.  With fuel costs as high as they are, taxpayers need relief.”

During the regular legislative session no action was taken on energy issues despite a number of them being on the table.  Scribner criticized the legislature’s leadership for failing to come up with a consensus on a plan of action. 

“When the legislative leaders failed to arrive at a meaningful plan, they failed everyone on the state,” said Scribner.

Democratic leaders now claim to be closer to being able to arrive at an agreement to act on in a special session.  However Scribner remained pessimistic.

“They are opposed to cutting the gross receipts tax because they claim it break promises to fund transportation items.  But that’s false,” said Scribner.  “We now have over $300 million in unanticipated revenue which was reported after the budget deal.  The money is there, I just suspect they want to able to spend it all instead of give some back to the people who earned it.”