Connecticut Republicans gathered in Wethersfield this week to demand an immediate suspension of the state's gasoline and diesel taxes, arguing that drivers need relief now as fuel prices remain stubbornly high across the state. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, who represents North Branford, urged Gov. Ned Lamont to call a special session to pause the 25-cents-per-gallon gas tax and the roughly 50-cents-per-gallon diesel tax until January.
According to WFSB, the request came as state Republicans called on Lamont to act quickly, with the suspension framed as a response to gasoline prices that now average roughly $4.40 per gallon statewide. As reported by CT Mirror, Connecticut Republicans called Wednesday for suspension of the state's retail taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel through Dec. 31.
Per the Connecticut GOP's own estimates, the tax suspension would save drivers about $2.75 per gas fill-up and $5.49 per diesel fill-up. Candelora said the state could provide relief to residents by suspending the taxes, telling reporters that the burden on drivers could be eased even if the underlying cause of high prices remains unresolved. “The war could be stopped but has not been stopped,” he said, adding that residents want action and results rather than blame.
What the Fuel Tax Holiday Would Cost the State
Republicans estimated that suspending the taxes would save consumers a combined $128 million, according to Candelora, per the same request detailed in the Hartford Courant. That figure differs from a separate estimate reported by CT Mirror, which put the cost of the same three-month holiday through Dec. 31 at about $162 million while still leaving the fund in the black.
Republicans pointed to the Special Transportation Fund's financial position as justification, noting the fund now has nearly $650 million in reserves and projected surplus. Lamont has countered that fuel tax receipts are one of the chief revenue sources for the Special Transportation Fund, and he has said the gas and diesel taxes are used to rebuild roads and bridges. State Sen. Ryan Fazio has backed the idea of holding a special legislative session to cut the taxes, the Courant reports.
Lamont's Own Gas Tax Pause Stalled Earlier This Year
This is not the first time a gas tax suspension has been floated in Hartford. Lamont himself pushed for a one-month pause on the gas tax in spring, when Connecticut gasoline cost about $3.50 per gallon, but the proposal was never enacted. Senate Democrats supported Lamont's gas-tax pause proposal at the time, while House Democrats did not get behind it, and the idea stalled without becoming law.
Whether the current push will result in a special session remains unclear, and the governor would have to call it himself. As it stands, a special session is not looking likely, though Republicans continue to press the issue publicly.
Diesel Prices Hit Records as Drivers Feel the Squeeze
The push comes as diesel prices in Connecticut have hit record territory. The state's average retail diesel price approached $6.48 per gallon, up 71 percent from the $3.78 average recorded a year earlier, according to CT Mirror. The national average diesel price hit a record $6.53 per gallon before easing slightly to $6.51. CT Mirror also reported that U.S. diesel and related fuel stocks were running about 12 percent below the seasonal average, while Connecticut's average home heating oil price climbed to $5.91 per gallon, up 50 percent from $3.95 in late June.
There are some signs of relief at the pump. The New Britain Herald reported that average gasoline prices in Connecticut fell 2.5 cents over the preceding week to $4.44 a gallon on Monday, with prices ranging from $4.08 to $4.99 across the state, citing GasBuddy data. Gasoline in Waterbury averaged $4.42 per gallon and $4.43 in Hartford, both down slightly from the prior week, per the same report. Nationally, gasoline averaged $4.42 per gallon, down 1.6 cents, while diesel fell 4.1 cents to $6.449 per gallon.
A Wethersfield Driver Feels the Pinch
For residents like Greg Sargis of Wethersfield, the math has already forced changes. Sargis said gas taxes make prices difficult for everyone, and he has changed his driving habits since prices climbed, cutting back on trips to Boston and Rhode Island and keeping his travel local instead. He recently filled up his tank to help his son Michael, who graduated from the University of Hartford, get around.
