Another Gas Tax?
Earlier this year, Governor Lamont committed our state to the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). This initiative, although well-intended, would actually create an additional gas tax to be paid by Connecticut residents and businesses. Not only would TCI increase fuel costs for commuters, but it would also drive up prices for consumer goods. This regressive tax would, in fact, affect our low-income communities, which ironically is the same demographic this bill is intended to help.
While Connecticut has made progress on the climate change front through smart policy decisions, like the Long Island Sound Blue Plan and clean water initiatives, the governor’s TCI proposal would actually have a minimal affect on climate change. Electric vehicles and improved fuel efficiency has put Connecticut on a path towards a significant reduction in carbon emissions without TCI. Additionally, the majority of pollutants that affect Connecticut’s air quality come from states to our west, which we cannot control.
Investing in clean-energy, improving our transportation transportation infrastructure, and helping our underserved communities are statewide priorities. Unfortunately, TCI fails to address any of these issues in a meaningful way and will simply be a burden on a state economy weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic.