Lawmakers divert gas tax funds

Massachusetts drivers are paying an extra 2.5 cents tax on every gallon of gasoline they buy to support an underground storage tank clean-up fund, but lawmakers are spending over half of the $75 million it generates each year on other programs.
 
That's created a backlog of more than 1,700 claims from gas station owners awaiting reimbursement for environmental clean-up work they've already done.
 
Diverting the gas tax money to the state's general fund is legal, and it's a common practice across the country. But tax relief advocate Barbara Anderson says it's another example of legislators using bait-and-switch tactics.
 
Spokesmen for House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray declined comment. A spokeswoman for Gov. Deval Patrick's budget chief said the administration included $10.9 million for tank reimbursements in a supplemental budget that lawmakers have yet to approve.