Sen. Berthel Votes in Support of Bill to Suspend Connecticut Gas Tax

Bill Suspends Gasoline Excise Tax April 1 to June 30; Includes a One-Week Sales Tax Holiday on Clothes in April and Suspends Bus Fares on CTtransit

State Sen. Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) voted in support of emergency legislation (House Bill 5501) suspending Connecticut’s excise tax on gasoline from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022. In addition, the legislation creates a one-week sales tax holiday on clothing and footwear under $100 from April 10, 2022, to April 16, 2022, and it suspends fares on all CTtransit buses statewide from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022.

Two weeks ago, Senator Berthel joined CT Republicans and called for suspending the state gas tax and also called for federal action to suspend the federal gas tax.

The state’s excise tax on gasoline is 25 cents per gallon. The legislation includes language asserting that failure by retailers to reduce the per-gallon price of gasoline by this amount during the suspension period will be considered an “unfair or deceptive trade practice.”

“Families are struggling to pay for necessities right now. They’re making purchasing decisions between gas, food, heating oil and electricity. The temporary suspension of the state’s gas tax will make a small impact in the lives of people in Connecticut for the better. It will help those struggling to make ends meet. However, it would be wonderful to do more. In the worst financial crisis and period of inflation in the last 50 years, we should also be looking at other proposals that my Senate Republican colleagues and I have put forward like reducing the sales tax and other relief,” said Senator Berthel.

“Prior to the Biden administration, Connecticut was already in a precarious financial position with one of the highest costs of living in the nation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue to look at other ways to help struggling families.”

The legislation earned unanimous approval of the House and Senate.

Senator Berthel is also advocating for cutting the state sales tax, making health care more affordable, and implementing policies to create opportunities and a pipeline to jobs. Learn more at BetterWayCT.com.

Senator Eric Berthel represents Connecticut’s 32nd Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Roxbury, Seymour, Southbury, Washington, Watertown and Woodbury. www.senatorberthel.com