Gas Prices at $5 a Gallon, Democrats Offer “Beano”, Tedisco Wants to Give Real Medicine – A Gas Tax Suspension

As gas prices near $5 a gallon, Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Glenville) today spoke on the New York State Senate Floor to urge the Majority to pass legislation he is a sponsor of to suspend the state gas tax and give millions of struggling and overburdened New Yorkers a tax break and not more tax ache.

Tedisco is a sponsor of legislation, chief sponsored by Senator Fred Akshar (S.8483) to suspend the gas tax through September 1^st and then direct all future gas tax funds to a state infrastructure fund for our state roads and bridges. Senator Tedisco has been a long-time advocate for cutting gas taxes and first called for this in 2008 as Assembly Republican Leader and again in 2011. Tedisco’s bill passed the Senate both times when the Republicans were in the Majority.

“Families and businesses are experiencing real pain at the pump that’s pinching their already over-stressed budgets.  We can provide some relief now by suspending the state’s sales tax on a gallon of gasoline from now until September,” said Senator Jim Tedisco. “Instead of giving New Yorkers real gas relief at the pump, the Senate Democrat Majority would rather give them Beano.”

“The gas tax is now, and has always, been a discriminatory tax against those those who are low and middle income people, because the wealthy can easily pay for it, and geographically discriminatory to Upstate and rural residents who need their vehicles to go to school, work and shop, as opposed to those in New York City who take mass transit don’t have to worry about paying for the pain at the pump,” said Tedisco.

“This gas tax suspension is a win-win for taxpayers, small businesses and New York State’s coffers because people will have more money to spend helping our economy and contributing more sales tax revenue for our local governments through the purchase of goods and services,” said Tedisco. 

Here’s a link to a clip of Senator Tedisco’s remarks on the Senate Floor blasting the Senate Democrats for giving Upstate New Yorkers “Beano” to deal with the gas pain at the pump people are feeling:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFjkV-FxAg