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HARTFORD, Conn. Some relief at the pumps is finally on the way for Connecticut motorists, particularly in Fairfield County where gas prices are the highest in the state.
After years of wrangling, Republicans and Democrats in the states General Assembly agreed Wednesday to a gas tax cap that lawmakers believe will restrict the rising costs of fuel.
The bill, approved unanimously by both the House and Senate, creates legislation that will cap the 7 percent gross receipts tax at $3 per gallon.
Today is a good day, said House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk. We appreciate the fact that our colleagues finally agree that proving relief at the pump is going to help anyone who drives and will have a ripple effect on our economy.
Republicans say they presented various forms of gas tax relief 17 times during the last five years, but each time their proposal was rejected. As recently as a few weeks ago, Democrats called the Republican gas tax initiatives political stunts.
But as the cost of fuel jumped, Democrats changed their minds.
Republicans also persuaded Democrats to make the cap permanent and not expire after one year as originally proposed.
Republicans, however, failed in their attempt to prevent a scheduled increase on July 1, 2013, when the 7 percent tax will rise to 8.1 percent, costing motorists $55 million next year, according to GOP leaders.
Lets go the extra step today. We will be facing a 15.7 percent tax increases unless we prevent that tax hike from taking effect, Cafero said.
The amendment failed largely along party lines, 94-53.
State Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, whose district also includes Westport, Weston and New Canaan, released a statement in support of the new legislation.
The public should be gratified that their voice was heard, as over 200 of my constituents called and emailed me with their strong support of capping or completely eliminating this tax, she said. They should stay vigilant and weigh in as the scheduled increase set to go into effect on July 1, 2013, approaches. I will continue to fight that increase as well.
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