Gas Tax Plan

PLEASE USE THE FORM ON THE LEFT AND SIGN UP TODAY AND JOIN THE FIGHT ON THE GAS TAX. OR DOWNLOAD THE PETITION HERE

A SUMMER HOLIDAY FROM HIGH GAS PRICES

As gas prices continue climbing to record highs with no end in sight, I and the Assembly Republican Conference want to relieve some of the pain at the pump by instituting a “summer holiday” from state gas taxes. Motorists and small businesses are certainly feeling the pinch.

Our summer gas tax holiday would, on average, provide a nearly .30-cent savings per gallon of gasoline and a .35-cent savings per gallon of diesel fuel.

Record high gas prices are putting a serious strain on motorists’ wallets, family budgets and small business bottom lines. High gas prices are a big part of the painful ‘middle class squeeze’ New Yorkers are enduring. New York’s overtaxed, overburdened, overregulated motorists deserve a holiday from high gas taxes, especially during the summertime months when more families traditionally take to the roadways.

High gas prices have a negative multiplier effect, driving up the cost of everyday goods as small businesses bear the price of higher fuel costs and ultimately pass it onto consumers. The fastest way to put the brakes on rising fuel, food and other commodity costs is by instituting a much-needed holiday from state fuel taxes for motorists and small businesses.

I and the Assembly Republican Conference also support the proposal recently put forth by Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) that would institute a summertime fuel tax holiday by suspending federal gas taxes. McCain’s “Gas Tax Holiday” amendment would temporarily shelve the 18.4-cent per gallon Federal gas tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2008.

It is simple economics: when people have to spend more on basic necessities like fuel and food, they have less to spend elsewhere, causing a further drag on an economy already mired in recession. By removing federal and state taxes on a gallon of gas, we can provide some measure of short-term relief that motorists and small businesses have been calling for. My Republican colleagues and I applaud Senator McCain for being the presidential candidate who was first in addressing this pressing issue.

Tax Freedom Day

I and the Assembly Republican Conference today observed New York's "Tax Freedom Day," by calling for passage of several targeted legislative initiatives which would reduce the state's crushing tax burden on families.

"Tax Freedom Day" refers to the amount of days individuals must work to earn enough money to pay their combined tax obligations at the federal, state and local levels. According to the independent, non-partisan Tax Foundation, New York's 2008 Tax Freedom Day is May 5, the third-highest in the nation. Only New Jersey (May 7) and Connecticut(May 8) have Tax Freedom Days falling later than New York State.

My Take on the State Budget

The budget was a few days late, but it finally passed. Here's my take on what's inside the budget.

Tedisco in 60: Let's Get This Budget Finished

The Mothership Returns

The General Conference Committee on the state budget (known as the Mothership), made up of leaders from both sides of the aisle and both houses of the legislature, met again today to begin to flesh out the details of the budget framework we agreed to last night. Here's my comments at that meeting.

A Framework of A Budget In Place

Here's my comments at a press conference late last night with Gov. Paterson, Senator Bruno, Speaker Silver and Senator Smith on what can only be described as a herculean effort to get this done.