Gas Tax Suspension Weighed By NY Lawmakers: Reports

ALBANY, NY — New York lawmakers want to temporarily suspend the state's gas tax as many motorists struggle with rising fuel costs amid inflation and the conflict in Ukraine, according to reports. However, Gov. Kathy Hochul still isn't sold on the plan.

Should the New York Gas Tax Relief Act pass, motorists could save up to 48 cents per gallon on gasoline and nearly 47 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, according to multiple reports.

Last week, Democratic Assemb. Angelo Santabarbara called for a one-year suspension of the tax, Spectrum News 1 reported. On Monday, Republican lawmakers in the Senate announced a similar push.

The Republican legislation is sponsored by Sen. Peter Oberacker. If passed, the bill would suspend the gas tax until September, according to News 10.

"These are costs that are just astronomical and we are asking people to basically buckle up? No. We need to give them some relief," Oberacker told News 10. "We need to give them some hope, and that’s what we’re doing."

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During a Monday stop in Rochester, Gov. Hochul said there's no guarantee motorists will see a positive impact from a gas tax suspension, Spectrum News reported. Since revenue from the state gas is used for New York road and bridge repair, suspending the gas tax could deprive highway budgets of those funds while gas prices continue to rise.

However, Hochul said she isn't ruling out the idea, Spectrum News reported.

"If I knew it was really going to be felt in the pockets of consumers, that's a different equation," Hochul said. "Prices are going to keep going up and up and up."