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Nozzolio Fights Plan to Raise Gas Prices |
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Matt Devane
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Friday, 14 March 2008 |
 Albany- New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio last Friday announced he will aggressively oppose a budget plan by Governor Spitzer that would eliminate the sales tax cap on gasoline and drastically raise fees on every vehicle registered in New York, resulting in higher costs for every New York driver.
Under his plan, the Governor would do away with the gas tax cap enacted on any State sales tax over $2 and would increase gasoline taxes by nearly $56 million annually. Senator Nozzolio was instrumental in advocating and enacting the gas tax cap two years ago.
“New Yorkers are hurting from the high cost of gasoline and increased Thruway tolls,” said Senator Nozzolio. “Now, despite the fact that the state sales tax is the only portion of the gas price we can control, Governor Spitzer wants to force commuters to pay more in higher gas taxes every time they fill up their cars. My colleagues in the Senate and I will stop the Governor’s plan to increase gas taxes on New York residents.”
Earlier this week, the State Senate also announced it would reject the “Spitzer Car Tax” when it puts forward its budget next week. Under the “Spitzer Car Tax,” the fee would increase from $5 to $20 on every vehicle registered in New York.
The Governor’s proposed three hundred percent Motor Vehicle Insurance fee hike would unfairly burden Upstate drivers and their families. This fee hike is among $1.7 billion in tax and fee increases advanced by the Governor in his Executive Budget this year. Senator Nozzolio has stated his strong opposition to the Governor’s efforts to raise taxes on New Yorkers.
“The car tax is clearly a misguided tax on Upstate residents and would add another harmful financial burden on the residents of the Finger Lakes region that I represent. That is why I am strongly opposing this 300% increase in the Motor Vehicle Insurance fee and will work to ensure that it is not included in the final State budget that is negotiated,” Nozzolio concluded.
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