Gov says he won’t bend on gas tax
Gov. David Paterson said today that he would not give in to pressure from Republicans to give the state a sales tax “holiday†between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Although the Senate Republican Majority said its bill authorizes anti-price-gouging penalties for gas station owners and gas distributors that don’t pass along the savings, Paterson said there is no guarantee that would happen. The Senate bill calls for suspending about 32 cents per gallon in state taxes.
Speaking at a news conference in New York City, the governor said he was taking responsibility for the issue by doing nothing.
“Sometimes nothing is a cool hand,†he said, referring to the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke.
The Democrat-controlled Assembly is refusing to pass a gas-tax holiday bill.
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The Governor and the Assembly Democrates are not in touch with the average person in New York. Something must be done and done soon. Where is the acountability that they have with the voters.
The Dems are out of touch. We are all hurting. Maybe they will do something when gas is $5.00 a gallon. It is crazy that the government is receiving a tax windfall as the average person suffers.
A few weeks ago William Gouldman, a Republican candidate looking to unseat Assemblywoman Sandra Galef in the 90th Assembly District called upon the State Legislature to cut state gas taxes by a least half, and charge a flat rate per gallon that would not increase as gas prices continue to go up. This seems like a common sense solution to the problem.
This voter believes the State Legislature should bring this up for a vote and let each Senator and Assemblyperson vote on it. This way we can all see who will support it and who does not. We would have more accountability in government that way.
If the governor bends over far enough for Silver and Bruno, Albany, at least, will have more gas.