Assemblyman Jim Conte (R,C,I,WF-Huntington Station)
joins members of the Assembly Republican Conference
in calling for the suspension of state taxes on
gasoline during the peak summer driving season from
Memorial Day through Labor Day.
“Because rising gas prices are putting a
major strain on Long Island residents, the legislature
needs to act now to relieve some of the burden that
the state imposes on its citizens,” said Conte.
“While there is little state government can
do to affect the rising global demand for oil, we
can eliminate the state’s excessive taxes
on gasoline. By putting money back in the pockets
of motorists, we are helping families pay for the
rising cost of groceries, which has also become
a growing concern.”
Assemblyman Conte is hopeful that the elimination
of state taxes on gasoline will also help to promote
Long Island’s tourism industry by making the
region a more affordable, thus more desirable destination
for tourists from neighboring states to come and
support local businesses.
“Eliminating state taxes on gasoline will
help make New York’s tourism industry more
competitive in attracting tourist dollars from neighboring
states,” remarked Conte.
“Long Island’s beaches and wineries
are major tourist destinations and eliminating state
taxes on gasoline will help to promote and grow
an important part of our economy.”
Assemblyman Conte added that while eliminating
state taxes on gasoline from Memorial Day to Labor
Day is a good start, he would like to see the tax
eliminated permanently.
“New Yorkers are already paying the highest
combined state and local taxes in the nation,”
added Conte. “A good way to show that the
state is serious about providing taxpayers with
real relief would be to permanently abolish one
of the state’s most regressive taxes.”
