Gas prices are soaring and that's why one state senator wants to eliminate the state's 34 cent gas tax for the rest of the year. Several factors including the war in Ukraine have forced gas prices up over $4.29 a gallon at some service stations, and Republican state Sen. Jessica de la Cruz of Burrillville wants to give consumers some relief.
Drivers in the Ocean State pay 34 cents a gallon in state gasoline tax, and she feels we should get rid of it through the end of the year.
De la Cruz said, "It's not a Republican-Democrat issue, it's what can we do for Rhode Islanders that will alleviate some pain." The bulk of the gas tax collected goes towards Department of Transportation projects to maintain and repair the roads, and she says, "It's not either or, just because we're getting rid of the gas tax does not mean that these road projects in your community are not going to be followed through on. We had a surplus of $618 million, and we have $2.5 billion coming from the federal government to cover the cost of renovating and updating our roads and bridges so we can do this. Those are your tax dollars so they're coming back to you."
De la Cruz says Gov. Dan McKee should return some of the budget surplus from this year back to the taxpayers. McKee is open to the idea saying, "If you eliminate it you've got to find about 120 million dollars."
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