House Republican Press Release

May 23, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Waterbury, Naugatuck, Valley Reps: Dems Kill House GOP Measure to Lower Gas Prices This Summer

Use Procedural Gimmick to Avoid Vote on Gas Tax Relief Legislation

The state House of Representatives’ majority Democrats today kept gasoline prices from being reduced by 25 cents per gallon when they used a procedural gimmick to kill the temporary Republican Gas Tax Holiday proposal that would have helped millions of Connecticut motorists this summer.

House Republicans offered an amendment that would have given the people of Connecticut a three-month Gas Tax Holiday for the peak summer driving season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Under the proposal, the 25 cents per gallon tax the state charges would be rolled back to zero to save motorists a total of $120 million over the three month period. The plan was originally proposed by House Republicans May 14^th. The lost revenues would have been made up from the projected $846 million state budget surplus.

“Today, the majority Democrats in the state House killed our proposal to eliminate the gas tax during the summer months by using a procedural motion that ensured none of them would be on the record as opposing to it. Don’t be fooled. Every Democratic legislator in the chamber voted against our proposal and every Republican supported it,” said Representative Kevin M. DelGobbo, R-Naugatuck, the House Ranking member (Republican leader) on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee. When you are driving to Cape Cod or to Hammonasset Beach for a weekend getaway or a week’s vacation with your family, you should remember who made sure you would pay almost four dollars a gallon to fill your tank.”

“This was a golden opportunity to provide real relief at the pump for the people of Connecticut this summer,” said state Representative David k. Labriola, R-131^st District. “Unfortunately, the majority party slammed the door shut on our proposal. It would have helped every Connecticut family that is planning a summer vacation. “

“My constituents are very concerned about how high gas prices will affect their family budgets,” said state Representative Len Greene, R-105^th District. “Most valley residents who contacted me after we proposed our Gas Tax Holiday a few weeks ago were enthusiastic about it and said they hoped it would pass. When the majority Democrats killed our proposal by using a technical motion today, they disappointed millionss of people across our state. There are still about two weeks left in the legislative session. It’s my hope they’ll change their minds before we adjourn June 6^th and go home for the summer.”

“Oakville, Watertown and Woodbury residents who will be driving to our beaches and state parks this summer will be paying prices at the pump that would have been substantially less if the Democrats had supported our gas tax holiday proposal,” said state Representative Sean Williams, R-68^th District. “Instead, the majority Democrats took a stand that will cost every Connecticut motorist an additional 25 cents a gallon, a decision they may live to regret.”