By Bob Katzen
House 30-132, rejected an amendment that would suspend the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax for two months.
“People across Massachusetts are feeling the squeeze of rising costs, and they deserve action, not excuses” said amendment sponsor Rep. Todd Smola (R-Warren). “A 60-day gas tax holiday is a practical way to deliver meaningful relief to families, commuters and small businesses. Every dollar matters when people are working hard to make ends meet. We have a responsibility to use the tools available to us to ease that burden and put taxpayers first. Our job is to deliver results for the people we represent, and this is an opportunity to put real savings back in the hands of Massachusetts residents. The Legislature missed an opportunity to help those in need.”
“Families across the state are struggling with gas prices that are averaging about $4.28 a gallon,” said GOP Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “I supported the proposed gas tax holiday because it would provide temporary but tangible relief at the pump for Massachusetts residents, while still addressing the commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure needs by using Fair Share money to backfill these lost revenues.”
“The governor’s two-month gas tax suspension would have provided some relief at the pump, while [Republican gubernatorial candidate] Mike Minogue has proposed a more substantial approach that would suspend the gas tax whenever prices rise above $4 a gallon,” said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Craney. “There are ideas on the table to give taxpayers a break, but legislative leaders don’t seem interested in any of them. Massachusetts families are being squeezed from every direction, and Beacon Hill’s response is to keep collecting every penny it can from them at the pump.”
“It’s a short-term political fix that will do virtually nothing to assuage the high prices currently squeezing our constituents, providing minimal savings at most for the average taxpayer,” said amendment opponent Rep. Adriane Madaro (D-East Boston). “The amendment also fails to guarantee that oil companies and gas station chains simply won’t pocket the difference, using this temporary cut to increase profit margins rather than lowering the price at the pump for consumers.”
(A “Yes” vote is for suspending the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax for two months. A “No” vote is against suspension and favors keeping intact the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax.)
Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven No