Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Here & There Column 3-5-13


50.6-Cents Per Gallon Gas Tax

  New York State government ought to be very proud that the gas tax paid by us folks who drive is the highest in the nation. 
  Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski of GasBuddy.com says the taxes are "a way to generate revenue for the government." 
   Why even New York  beats out California and Connecticut with its gas tax  which is nearly 50.6-cents per gallon .
  Executives in the petroleum industry note that New York caps its taxes to the first $2 per gallon and when prices go up there is not additional benefit to the state but there is no tax cap on gas in counties so when prices rise the country gets more money.
  Higher gas prices in Sullivan County benefits the County of Sullivan......one would certainly hope that no one in county government has anything to do with the gas prices we are faced with?
  State Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor (R-Fishkill) has entered the gas tax fray saying he will introduce legislation to cap tax on gasoline at the national average and that a tax cap would save motorists 20 cents per gallon.
  Lalor calls the state gas tax a regressive tax that hits hardest those who can least afford it and that us folks "pay the highest tax taxes in the country," some "65 percent higher than the national average which is 30 cents a gallon."
  The Fishkill assemblyman feels that, "charging drivers 65 percent more than competing states is gouging by any definition."
  Gas station operators are estimating that a tax cap would reduce gas prices 25 cents a gallon.
  The tax games played in Albany are not very amusing to the driving public as they are hit with both state and local taxes.
  It's time we call Governor Cuomo's price gouging hotline and tell them we are fed up with the tax gouging at the pump. The governor's website is www.dos.ny.gov 
  We support Assemblyman Lalor's introduction of legislation to cap tax on gasoline at the national average.

                                                                

  
   

No comments: