Senate Minority Leader John McKinney:
“Since April, Republican legislators have urged Governor Rell and Democratic leaders to help reduce gas prices by addressing the one factor within our control – grossly high state gas taxes. Now, with Governor Rell’s leadership and support, we are one step closer to providing a measure of relief to Connecticut motorists who are paying the highest gas prices in the nation. The ball is now squarely in the Democrats’ court.

“I urge Senator Williams and Speaker Amann to heed the Governor’s request and take this important first step. But, I caution my legislative colleagues not to stop at simply postponing the scheduled tax increase. We need to do more, and we can. Republican legislators identified in April the savings needed to cover the gas tax relief. In fact, the spending cuts contained in the Republican Alternative Budget Proposal would more than offset the cost of eliminating the scheduled increase in the Gross Receipts Tax. It would also allow us to cap the tax once and for all, and prevent it from increasing every time the price of oil goes up.”

Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore Leonard Fasano:
“The difference between gas prices in Connecticut and our neighboring states is due almost entirely to the difference in our gas taxes. At current rates, Connecticut state gas taxes cost motorists more than 50 cents per gallon of gasoline. I applaud Governor Rell for lending her support to help re-open the debate on state gas taxes. It is my hope that the majority party will now give serious consideration to the plan put forth by Republicans in April to stop the scheduled gas tax increase and permanently cap the Gross Receipts Tax.”