House lawmakers voted 143-0 in favor of the emergency bill. Hours later, the Senate passed the proposal.
— Connecticut will temporarily suspend its 25-cent-per-gallon excise tax on gasoline after a bipartisan vote by state lawmakers Wednesday in an effort to ease pain at the pump for motorists.The House of Representatives voted 143-0 in favor of the emergency bill. Hours later, the Senate passed the proposal by a vote of 33-0. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is expected to sign the bill into law.
State legislators and Lamont, who are all facing reelection in November, have been under pressure to blunt the effects of rising inflation and the state's high gasoline prices. As of Friday, the state's average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $4.37, according to AAA. While that was down 11 cents from the prior week, it was still up 71 cents per gallon compared to February and $1.47 compared to this time last year.
Some Republican lawmakers questioned why more wasn't being done, including scrapping a planned highway usage tax on large commercial vehicles that's supposed to take effect in 2023. In the Senate, Democratic Sen. Cathy Osten of Sprague, the co-chair of the budget-writing committee, agreed with some of the GOP's complaints and said lawmakers should exempt farmers from the highway use tax — an issue that could be revisited later during the legislative session.
Some Republicans also echoed concerns from the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association about small gas retailers, who pre-pay the excise tax on gas, and may not sell all of the fuel in their tanks by April 1. Retailers that don't pass along the 25-cent-per-gallon savings can face various penalties.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
VIDEO: Bouncy house launches into the air during 2-year-old's birthday partyAn inflatable bouncy house at a birthday party for a toddler in North Carolina went flying into the air Saturday.
Read more »
Special election dates announced to fill Alaska's sole seat in US HouseAlaskans will vote by mail in a special primary election. Then, a special election will be held to pick who will fill late Rep. Don Young's seat at the U.S. House of Representatives.
Read more »
White House press secretary Jen Psaki positive for COVID-19, won’t travel to Europe with BidenWhite House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that she has tested positive again for COVID-19.
Read more »
White House press secretary Jen Psaki tests positive for COVID-19 for 2nd timeWhite House press secretary Jen Psaki positive for COVID-19, will not travel on Biden's Europe trip to discuss Ukraine.
Read more »
Cleveland nonprofit Joseph House gives new bikes to Afghan refugeesMore than 800 refugees arrived in Ohio last year after U.S. military forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban regained power. Many of them settled in the Cleveland area. Bikes were a highly requested item among the newly-arrived refugees.
Read more »