Ortt: 55-cent gas tax would have ‘devastating’ social, economic impacts

Press Release, State Senate Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt – along with Senators Pam Helming, Mario Mattera, Dan Stec and members of the Senate Republican Conference – blasted the so-called climate and community investment act, a proposal being advanced by Albany Democrats that would increase the cost of gas by as much as 55 cents per gallon and increase home heating costs by more than 25 percent.

Rob Ortt

The legislation would impose a carbon tax of $55 per ton of fossil fuel emissions in order to reach renewable energy mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed by the Legislature in 2019.

“New Yorkers are dealing with devastating social and economic impacts from the pandemic, our economy continues to struggle as our small businesses are forced to continue to operate under the Governor’s mandates, and the Legislature just passed a state budget with huge tax and spending increases,” Ortt said. “This out-of-touch bill is just the latest hit to hard working New Yorkers who will be forced to endure skyrocketing costs at the pumps and to heat their homes. It’s time to reverse the tax and spend insanity coming from Albany that continues to drive families and businesses out of our state. This is a bad bill at any time, but particularly now at a time when so many New Yorkers are already struggling.”

According to the Tax Foundation, New York currently has the 7th highest gas tax in the country, at 43.12 centers per gallon with  California currently the highest at 62.47 cents per gallon. This legislation would raise New York’s tax to 98.12 cents per gallon, an increase of more than 127 percent, and would make New York’s gas tax more than 57 percent higher than any other state. New York State has repeatedly been named as one of the worst business tax climates in the nation by the Tax Foundation.

“The road to renewable energy should not be paved with higher taxes,” Helming said. “This proposal would significantly increase costs for families, seniors, farmers, businesses and virtually every New Yorker. If you use gas or diesel in your vehicle, you’ll pay more under this proposal. If you heat your home with natural gas, fuel oil or propane, you’ll pay more under this proposal. If you power your manufacturing business with heating oil or propane, you’ll pay more under this proposal. It’s time to pump the brakes on Albany’s appetite for higher taxes. I urge my Senate colleagues to reject this proposal.”