Massachusetts Senate Republicans Make Case To Suspend State's Gas Tax

BOSTON (CBS) – A bill has been filed on Beacon Hill to temporarily suspend the state's gas tax, but it's going to take bipartisan support to turn it into a reality.

Republican lawmakers held a press conference on the steps of the Statehouse on Wednesday to gain support for their latest attempt to suspend the gas tax.

"We cannot, and we will not, stand idle as motorists all across the Commonwealth are feeling pain at the gas pump," said Senator Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.

Tarr is just one of the senators backing the temporary tax suspension to ease the rising costs on consumers.

The state's current tax is set at 24 cents a gallon.

As written, the bill would lift the gas tax through Labor Day.

"This is an issue that spreads far and wide across our economy and across our state," said Tarr.

Republicans said they want to cut into the state's $1.7 billion supplemental spending budget to cover the costs of halting the tax. They claim there is a way to do it without interfering with any current or future infrastructure projects.

Beth Dumouchel, of Whitinsville, spoke at Wednesday morning's press conference in support of the temporary gas tax suspension. Dumouchel said prices are so high she is having to adjust family plans for her three youngest children.

"We have a lot on our plate," said Dumouchel. "It hurts. They are used to it. I created a life where they would have these opportunities to get away to breathe and have fun."

Democrats on Beacon Hill are seeing this differently.

Senator Brendan Crighton chairs the Transportation Committee.

"Taking money away from our transportation system is not what my constitutes want," said Crighton.

The senator said the proposal puts too much at stake, citing the $16 billion infrastructure bond deal passed last year.

"That's based off this revenue source through the gas tax, so we can't just go back to our lenders and say we changed our minds, we are going about it a different route; that would hurt our relationships there and hurt our bond rating, make it harder to borrow in the future," said Crighton.

Republicans said their best-case scenario ends with this bill being passed by the first week of April.

The senate will start debating a spending bill for the $1.7 billion supplemental budget on Thursday.

House lawmakers rejected a similar idea earlier this month.

Maryland and Georgia have already suspended their gas taxes.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was asked about the proposal Tuesday during a news conference and said he believes it deserves a fair hearing.