By Bob Katzen

House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) was non-committal but pessimistic about whether the House will approve one of the pending proposals to suspend the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax.

Mike Monogue, the Republican candidate for governor, proposed a suspension of the gas tax whenever prices climb above $4 per gallon. Gov. Maura Healey filed a supplemental budget that includes a two-month suspension of the gas tax.

Mariano told the State House News Service, “I think we’ve taken votes on this conversation in the past … going to work with — to find where the membership is on it going forward. But you know, obviously those votes were pretty significantly against previously.”

Supporters of the suspension say that gas tax relief would help individuals with the rising costs of gas, transportation, groceries, goods and services. Opponents say the state cannot afford the revenue loss and that the suspension would affect the state’s bond rating and possibly also result in cuts in state spending for programs that help many people.
The House has voted overwhelmingly several times in the past against similar proposals.