Connecticut Suspends Gas Tax -- RI Legislative Leaders Refuse to Take a Stance

Connecticut Suspends Gas Tax -- RI Legislative Leaders Refuse to Take a Stance

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has announced that he will sign legislation to suspend his state’s gas tax, lowering the cost of gas by 25 cents per gallon.

Rhode Island’s gas tax is substantially higher than Connecticut’s.

Rhode Island’s tax is more than $0.35 per gallon. Connecticut’s goes from $0.25 to zero.

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With inflation at nearly 8%, trimming the gas tax is one action that legislators can take to give relief.

 

Connecticut Bill Signed Thursday

“The gas tax cut passed the legislature [Wednesday] night,” Lamont posted to social media. “I’m proud it gained unanimous bipartisan support and moved swiftly to give folks some relief at the pump. When I sign the bill into law [Thursday], we’ll become just the third state in the nation to suspend the gas tax."

During the day on Wednesday, the Connecticut House of Representatives unanimously passed the tax suspension legislation. The Senate had passed it earlier.

The new law will go into effect April 1 and last until July 1.

Connecticut lawmakers also passed a sales tax holiday. The week-long holiday is set to start April 10 and applies to all items $100 or less.

 

Ruggerio and Shekarchi - No Position, No Action

GoLocal asked the press offices of both Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi if they support passage of legislation to cut RI's gas tax.

Each office sent back the same statement:

 

“Legislation to suspend the gas tax is pending in both the Senate and House. The proposal has not yet been heard by the finance committees in either chamber, but will be reviewed as part of the normal, public hearing process.”

 

Neither Shekarchi nor Ruggerio's office would answer if their bosses supported a suspension or reduction of the tax