Sen. Len Suzio: Tuesday is "the day" for vote on summer gas tax relief plan

State Sen. Len Suzio today said that on Tuesday (May 8) he is looking forward to attaching an amendment onto the state budget adjustment bill which aims to reduce the gas tax by 18 cents a gallon this summer.

"Tuesday is the day," Suzio said. "Legislators will vote on whether they want to give motorists substantial relief at the pumps this summer. We will all find out where our elected officials stand on this issue. Everyone will be on record."

Suzio’s "2 for 2" plan calls for the gas tax to be lowered from its current 7.5 percent to 2 percent for the 2 summer driving months.

The plan, which Suzio estimates will save motorists 18 cents a gallon this summer, has the support of the entire Senate Republican caucus.

"Thousands of Connecticut taxpayers have told me they want relief," Suzio said. "They come in droves to my ‘Lower the Gas Tax’ rallies to make that point. They have signed my gas tax petitions, and they tell me to keep fighting for them."

Suzio said that as a result of high gas prices, the state of Connecticut has collected a $60 million windfall in gas taxes over and above what the governor and legislature budgeted for in 2011.

"I want to give part of that windfall back to taxpayers," Suzio said. "With this proposal, I’m also challenging the governor and legislature to test the theory that lower taxes will increase transactions and stimulate our economy. Lower gas taxes and you won’t see so many taxpayers crossing the state’s borders to fill up in Massachusetts and Rhode Island."

On Monday, Suzio's "2 for 2" amendment came close to being called during debate on a revenue-related bill, but the bill was put aside by Senate Democrats before the amendment was brought out.

To view Suzio’s amendment: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/lcoamd/2012LCO04378-R00-AMD.htm .