| Senator Dan Debicella (R-21) today
helped secure legislative passage of initiatives designed
to take away some of the pain suffered by Connecticut
drivers filling up at the state’s gasoline pumps.
Senator Debicella voted during Wednesday’s special
legislative session to repeal the scheduled increase
in the state’s Petroleum Gross Receipts Tax. Without
today’s vote, the state tax on the wholesale price
of petroleum products would have increased from 7.0%to
7.5% on July 1st.
“Raising gas taxes right now would be insane,”
said Senator Debicella, “but we need to do more
than just stop gas taxes from rising—we need to
lower them.”
Senator Debicella voted in favor of legislation to
permit gas stations to offer cash discounts. Currently,
franchise agreements prevent most Connecticut gas stations
from charging different prices for cash and credit card
customers. Industry sources estimated that cash discounts
could provide an extra ten cents per gallon in relief
for those paying cash at the pump.
However, Senator Debicella offered several proposals
which would have actually lowered state taxes on gasoline.
All his proposals were defeated on a party-line vote.
“I am disappointed that the Democrats are steadfast
in their refusal to take meaningful action to provide
long-term gas-tax relief,” said Senator Debicella.
Senator Debicella’s proposals included lowering
the gas tax by an additional 10 cents per gallon for
the summer, permanently lowering the gross receipts
tax from 7% to 5%, and capping other future automatic
tax increases.
“We currently have $94 million in surplus because
of the gas tax, and we should be returning that to the
people of Connecticut,” said Senator Debicella.
“My proposals would have taken an additional 10-20
cents off a gallon of gas in Connecticut.”
Senator Debicella said he would continue fighting for
additional gas tax relief, but that “we have at
last taken a first step toward providing Connecticut
residents relief at the gas pumps,” said Senator
Debicella.
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