Today’s AAA Report $4.39 for Gas & $6.27 for Diesel
The latest report from AAA Northeast shows the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts has skyrocketed 54 percent since this date last year. Today’s price of $4.39 for a gallon of gasoline and $6.27 for diesel represent the highest prices ever recorded in Massachusetts. The steady increase in prices has provoked State House leaders in New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire to suspend, extend their suspensions, or act soon on suspending their state gas tax in order to provide relief for their state’s motorists. At the Massachusetts State House, similar attempts have been rejected by Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka. Mariano called it a gimmick and Spilka’s leadership team did the same. Last week, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue reported the state collected $6.9 billion from state taxpayers, a jump of 79% from last April.
The record high fuel costs and record high level of tax collections have not seemed to phase Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka, who are also behind a legislative ballot question seeking to increase the state income tax by 80% on some affluent earners and small businesses.
“Where is the leadership from our State House leaders? What policy can be more important than providing tax relief for our state’s taxpayers and motorists. At what point do Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka wake up to what is happening to their struggling middle class constituents?” questioned Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.
“It’s clear that Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka are trying to buy time and prefer not to act. They just cannot be bothered with the Massachusetts middle class. Price increases brought on by inflation are eating away at the paychecks and savings of ordinary middle class Massachusetts workers. If the legislature’s ballot question to raise the income tax by 80% on some earners passes this November, it will only make matters worse. The ballot question will push companies out of Massachusetts and the significant cost of this tax will then be passed on to people who just cannot afford another expense right now,” concluded Craney.