CT House & Senate GOP Leaders Call for Suspension of State Taxes on Gas and Diesel

Citing flexibility in the Special Transportation Fund, Republicans say relief can’t wait

HARTFORD— On behalf of their respective caucuses, House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield) on Wednesday urged Governor Ned Lamont and legislative Democrats to join Republicans and act immediately to suspend Connecticut’s taxes on gasoline and diesel through the end of the calendar year.

Connecticut drivers currently pay an excise tax of 25 cents per gallon on gasoline and 49.9 cents per gallon on diesel. Suspending both would save residents an estimated $2.75 per fill-up of gas and $5.49 per fill-up of diesel.

State government can afford it, said the Republican leaders, calling for an immediate special session on the matter. Suspending the gas tax through Dec. 31 would cost $92 million, and suspending the diesel tax would cost $36 million, for a combined $128 million. The Special Transportation Fund, which collects that revenue, is approaching nearly $650 million in reserves and projected surplus.

Governor Lamont and legislative Democrats have known about the problem for months. In March, the Governor himself floated suspending the gas tax. Democrat lawmakers failed to act, the Governor never pushed it, and the session ended without any relief at the pump.

The call from Candelora and Harding builds on the mid-September proposal by House and Senate Republicans to address the gas tax and other state policies related to affordability.

“The Governor saw this coming. Democrats saw this coming. They talked about it in March and then did nothing,” Candelora said. “We suspended the gas tax in 2022, so everyone knows how to do it. Diesel matters just as much. It fuels the trucks that deliver our groceries and everything on store shelves, and Democrats already made that more expensive with their truck mileage tax. Other states are taking action. We should too.”

“Connecticut Republicans want to deliver relief at the pump,” Harding said. “Connecticut Republicans want to make the trip to the gas station less painful and more affordable. Let’s get this done for middle class families and job creators. And this shouldn’t be partisan: We invite Connecticut Democrats to join us in providing this relief for people.”