Aubertine Supports Cutting Summer Gas Taxes

Senator votes “yes” in conjunction with bills for conservation, alternative fuels

ALBANY (Wednesday, May 07, 2008)—State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent) voted to suspend state taxes on gasoline from the weekend of Memorial Day through Labor Day as one of several efforts to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on his constituentsALBANY (Wednesday, May 07, 2008)—State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent) voted to suspend state taxes on gasoline from the weekend of Memorial Day through Labor Day as one of several efforts to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on his constituents

“This is certainly a bill worthy of moving forward, though I think there is certainly a lot of room for improvement,” Sen. Aubertine told his colleagues on the Senate floor. “All we can do for our families here in New York State and the businesses in New York State, we should be doing.”

After the vote, Sen. Aubertine said he hopes this will benefit farmers, businesses and families who face rising expenses in every facet of life. If the state taxes are removed from the price of gasoline, he said, not only will it save consumers, but keep the vital tourism industry from suffering significant losses this summer.

“In the north country, we get hit by a double whammy,” Sen. Aubertine said. “Driving is necessary to get from town to town in Central and Northern New York and our economy depends on visitors. The price of gasoline is hitting us hard.”

Along with the suspending state taxes on gasoline (S.7594B), the Senator voted in favor of a tax credit for biodiesel and ethanol storage facilities (S.6160B); a biofuel production credit for cellulosic ethanol (S.7932); a sales tax exemption on the purchase of hybrid and high-efficiency vehicles (S.3947/A.7626A); and a discount on Thruway EZ Pass tolls for drivers fuel efficient cars (S.4363).

“Alternative fuel sources will decrease our dependence on foreign oil and make us less vulnerable to the rising cost of gasoline,” Sen. Aubertine said. “In the port of Oswego and on the highways leading into Fulton, the feed stock to create ethanol is coming in. The former Miller brewery’s new mission as Northeast Biofuels will boost our economy with the jobs it creates and its part in the impact alternative fuels will have on energy costs.”

The Senator said it is unfortunate that the gas tax holiday bill will probably be the best publicized, even though it only treats a symptom of our dependence on oil. He supported the bill because the people in his district are in need, but said it would be better if the bill contained measures to keep the oil companies from profiting from what should be a consumer tax break.

“Alternative fuels like ethanol mean jobs in the 48th District and we must support any measure that promotes green business here,” Sen. Aubertine continued. “That’s what the two ethanol bills do. The others promote conservation, which will help our transition away from a dependence on oil. We need to decrease the demand for gasoline. It will be better for our environment and our wallets.”

In addition to these measures to cut the cost of gasoline, Sen. Aubertine said the state must also begin looking at problems looming on the horizon, especially the cost of home heating oil. Large cost increases relating to winter heating could drive people from their homes.

“This looks like it will be a crisis,” Sen. Aubertine said. “If the price of home heating oil forces people out of their homes, especially the elderly and those on fixed incomes, it will not only have tragic effects on their lives, but also cost the state more than if they are able to stay in their homes. It’s important to recognize this problem now and start searching for a real solution.”