State. Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) joined Connecticut Senate and House Republicans in calling on state lawmakers to temporarily suspend the state gross receipts tax on gasoline and is demanding that Connecticut’s federal Congressional delegation deliver on a federal gas tax cut proposal to provide immediate relief to Connecticut residents as gas prices surge.
Senator Cicarella and Connecticut Republican lawmakers are proposing to suspend the state’s gross receipts tax on gasoline, which has risen to 26.4 cents per gallon in recent weeks. Also, they are demanding that Connecticut’s federal delegation follow through on calls to halt the federal 18.4 cents per gallon gas tax.
Together, these proposals will immediately save Connecticut residents 44.8 cents on every gallon of gasoline.
Senator Cicarella and Republican leaders are calling on state lawmakers to adopt this proposal immediately during the legislative session scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, 2022. The lawmakers will also seek to adopt language to require that suppliers and retailers pass on the reduction in taxes to consumers.
The state tax proposal is budget neutral. The state can afford the reduction with its windfall in increased sales tax and gas tax revenue the state is collecting as a result of inflation.
“I hear from families in my district every day, and soaring gas prices affect everyone. It should not be a partisan issue. Last year, we rallied against a new proposed gas tax and I repeatedly said that Connecticut families were at their limit. Now, we are well beyond this limit because of disastrous policies in Washington. This is not something that happened overnight,” said Senator Cicarella.
“What is worse, and quite frankly egregious, is the fact that the State of Connecticut is flush with taxpayer money from inflation, with even more from federal aid, and there still isn’t a sense of urgency to help struggling families at the pump right now. My Republican colleagues and I do have this sense of urgency. We must return this windfall to families in Connecticut for relief today—not months down the road. This is why people in my district are frustrated and we must give them the relief that they’ve paid for right now,” he said.