(Norwich Bulletin) State Senator’s Gas Tax Petition Has 1,100 Signatures

Article as it appeared in the Norwich Bulletin

Hartford, Conn. — An online petition being run by state Sen. Art Linares, R-Westbrook, calling for state government to stop a 15.7 percent increase in the wholesale gasoline tax has more than 1,100 signatures, said Adam Liegeot, spokesman for Linares.

The tax is scheduled to rise to 8.1 percent from 7 percent on July 1. Linares, who district includes Colchester, is planning on delivering the petition to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy next week, Liegeot said Tuesday.

The legislation that would raise the tax predates the administration of Malloy, a Democrat. The levy, one of Connecticut’s two gasoline taxes, was last increased in 2007 when it rose from 6.3 percent.

The July 1 increase will likely add about 4 cents per gallon to pump prices, the Connecticut branch of the AAA automobile club and others have estimated. Eastern Connecticut service station owners have expressed concern about losing business to stations across the nearby borders of Massachusetts and Rhode Island because prices are at least 15 cents lower in those two other states.

To view the petition, go to www.senatorlinares.com.