Senator Gallivan Opposes Additional Gas Tax

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) is joining other members of the Senate Minority in criticizing a proposal that would increase the cost of gasoline by as much as fifty-five cents per gallon and increase home heating costs by more than twenty-five percent. 

The so-called Climate and Community Investment Act (S.4264) would impose a carbon tax of $55 per ton of fossil fuel emissions in order to reach renewable energy mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed by the Legislature in 2019.

“New Yorkers already face some of the highest taxes in the country and simply cannot afford to pay more to drive their cars or heat their homes,” Senator Gallivan said.  “Our economy is still recovering from the devastating impact of the pandemic and these higher taxes will further hurt families and businesses across the state.  We should be doing more to limit or reduce taxes, not raise them.  I urge my colleagues to reject this bill.”

In addition to gasoline, the carbon tax would also apply to natural gas, fuel oil and propane.

According to the Tax Foundation, New York currently has the seventh highest gas tax in the country, at 43.12 centers per gallon with California currently the highest at 62.47 cents per gallon. This legislation would raise New York’s tax to 98.12 cents per gallon, an increase of more than 127 percent, and would make New York’s gas tax more than 57 percent higher than any other state. New York State has repeatedly been named as one of the worst business tax climates in the nation by the Tax Foundation.