Monday: Connecticut Senate & House Republicans Announce Statewide Petition Drive to Stop July 1st Gas Tax Hike

WHO:

State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield)
State House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero (R-Norwalk)
Republican legislators

WHAT:

A press conference and petition drive to stop state gas tax increases set to take effect July 1st.

One of the largest gas tax hikes in state history is scheduled to hit Connecticut on July 1. The gas tax in Connecticut is already about 22 cents higher than in neighboring states like Massachusetts. The July 1st gas tax hike would raise prices at the pump another 4 cents per gallon.

The tax set to increase is a hidden state tax on gasoline (the petroleum gross receipts tax) that motorists pay above and beyond the state (25¢) and federal (18.4¢) per-gallon taxes. This tax is a percentage of the wholesale price of gasoline and is scheduled to increase 16% on July 1st.

At the same time, Connecticut’s Diesel Fuel Tax is scheduled to increase by 3.5 cents per gallon, and will have a ripple effect that will increase consumer costs on everything from groceries and clothing, to construction, as well as other goods and services.

Republicans have created an online petition in opposition to the tax hike. Motorists can sign the petition by visiting www.AxeTheGasTaxCT.com. As of Friday afternoon, over 4,000 people had signed the petition.

WHEN:
Monday, June 24th, 2013 – Leadership press conference at 1:00 p.m.
Statewide petition drive at 4 p.m.

WHERE:
1:00 p.m. press conference at Shell Gas Station, 335 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Statewide petition drive

Senator Tony Guglielmo, Representative Sam Belsito, and Representative Tim Ackert will be at the Tolland Mobil Station at 56 Meadow Rd, Tolland, CT

Senator Rob Kane will be at Big Daddy’s Gulf Station at 1633 Main St, North Woodbury, CT

Senator Kevin Kelly and Representative Dave Rutigliano will be at the Food Bag Citgo Station at 442 River St, Shelton, CT

Senator Art Linares will be at the Westbrook Mobil Station at 198 Essex Rd, Westbrook, CT

Senator Joe Markley, Representative Lezlye Zupkus, and Representative Al Adinolfi will be at the Cheshire Gulf Station at 1125 Highland Ave, Cheshire, CT

Senator John McKinney, Representative Tony Hwang, and Representative Brenda Kupchick will be at the Fairfield Citgo Station at 2047-2049 Post Rd, Fairfield, CT

Senator Mike McLachlan will be at the Food Bag Citgo Station at 90 West St, Danbury, CT

Senator Jason Welch and Representative Whit Betts will be at the Food Bag Citgo Station at 54 Farmington Ave, Bristol, CT

Senator Kevin Witkos will be at the Simsbury Gulf Station at 125 West St, Simsbury, CT