Connecticut Governor Rell Urges Sincere Effort to Provide Relief from Rising Gasoline Prices Before Session Ends

May 30, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today expressed concern that legislation to suspend the state’s $0.25-per-gallon sales tax on gasoline during the summer driving season may not receive serious consideration before the legislative session ends June 6.

“I am pleased that the Senate passed the ‘gas tax holiday’ amendment with a 35-1 vote, but sending it off to two committees with just a week remaining in the session makes me wonder how sincere legislators are about passing the plan,” Governor Rell said. “I see a great many legislative hurdles to go – and I note that the Democrats’ tax package does not reflect the potential revenue loss from the plan. Yet all over the state consumers are crying out for relief – any relief – from gas prices that are going right through the roof. Burying a proposal in committee is not going to change that fact – or slip by unnoticed.

“My on-line petition in favor of gas price relief now has more than 15,000 signers and signatures are coming in at the rate of about 1,000 a day,” the Governor said. “Everywhere I go people are telling me they want a break. They want to see action – now – whether it is the legislative Republicans’ proposal for the temporary gas tax holiday or my proposal to permanently cap the gross receipts tax.

“I recognize that proposals such as this must go through a process, but to create obstacles and purposely impede the process makes you wonder whether last night’s vote was ‘all show’ and will result in ‘no dough’ for taxpayers,” Governor Rell said. “I hope the process can be moved along so this legislation can receive the consideration it deserves before the session ends. The people of Connecticut deserve no less.”

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Connecticut this week was $3.35, up from $3.07 last month. Republicans in the General Assembly have proposed suspending the 25-cent-per-gallon state gas tax through Labor Day to provide motorists with relief from steadily increasing prices. Governor Rell has proposed capping the gross receipts tax on petroleum products – increased in 2005 to help pay for transportation infrastructure improvements – at the wholesale price of $1.75 per gallon.

Source: Connecticut Governor

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