Senator Alexis Weik (R-Patchogue) hosted a press conference at the Bolla Market on 1340 Motor Parkway, Islandia, to urge Governor Hochul to temporarily suspend the state excise on gasoline.
Nationally, the price of gasoline has risen dramatically due to market volatilely. While press conference participants stressed there is nothing they can do to ease global markets, there are steps that can be taken on the state and local level to ease the burden consumers are facing throughout the state.
The 46-cent-per-gallon tax is meant to raise revenues for infrastructure within the state, raising concerns that suspending the tax would negatively impact our state’s infrastructure.
When probed as to whether or not Weik was concerned that suspending the tax would harm infrastructure, Weik was sure it would not.
Weik restated New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s assessment that only 17 cents on every dollar of revenues raised from the gas tax are being allocated to infrastructure. Furthermore, Weik pointed to the 12 billion dollars that the governor is allocating towards the rainy-day fund as a potential offset. “With the state flush in cash, this is a good time to offer relief to our taxpayers,” Weik said.
Weik was joined by her local Republican Colleagues in the State Senate: Senators Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Senator Phil Boyle (R-Bayshore), and Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk). She was also joined by Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport).
Local officials came to lend their support as well as propose local measures. Local officials in attendance included: Legislators Kevin McCaffery (R- Babylon), Leslie Kennedy (R- Nesconset), Rob Trotta (R- Fort Salonga), Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue); County Clerk and Comptroller Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset) and John Kennedy (R-Nesconset); and Chief of Staff to the Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature Nicholas LaLotta.
“Being in the construction industry, this is going to be devastating,” said Mattera.
“I am so thankful to our state senators for taking the first step to assist our constituents. That is the job of government. Anyone who looks around sees the trouble that our people are in. Daily, I get phone calls about the price of gas,” stated Legislator Kennedy. “Democrats and Republicans, please push this through. It is definitely needed to help our people.”
Gas prices have become an increasingly hot button issue, especially now that they have increased to a statewide average of $4.45 a galloon. Weik claimed that suspending the tax would decrease the average tax of gasoline by between eight to ten dollars.
“We have a corresponding bill in the assembly that would remove the sales tax from gas,” said Brown. We’re asking Governor Hochul… to do this to provide the relief that we need.”
