Massachusetts Republicans file three bills to attempt to relieve drivers facing high gas prices

Chris Lisinski

After Democrats rebuffed an earlier attempt and Gov. Charlie Baker signaled his disinterest in suspending the state’s gas tax, Massachusetts Republicans are preparing to make another pass at legislative action to address soaring prices at the pump. House and Senate Republicans announced Tuesday they filed a trio of bills seeking to relieve pressure on drivers by suspending the state’s gas tax for the next six months, offering tax credits to commuters, and creating new electric vehicle rebates.

Republican leaders filed three new bills alongside their announcement. One would halt collection of the 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax in Massachusetts until Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 5 (SD 3052). A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said the bill would use state General Fund revenues to backfill foregone revenue to address concerns Democrats have raised about possible impacts on the state’s bond rating.

Another proposal (SD 3053) would create a new refundable tax credit of 58.5 cents per mile driven, capped at $5,000 per filing, for motor vehicle trips for employment, education, medical appointments or qualified charitable service. The credit would last for the remainder of 2022.

The third bill (SD 3054) calls for offering rebates of up to $3,000 to Bay Staters who purchase or lease plug-in electric vehicles as well as $500 rebates to consumers who install electric vehicle charging stations. Its provisions would expire three years after passage.

“We cannot stand idle while day after day people are facing the economic pain of paying for fuel to get to work, school, and medical appointments,” Tarr of Gloucester said in a statement. “These bills create powerful tools to assist strained household budgets not only with the cost of fuel, but also with the costs of technology to be freed from dependence on that fuel.”

House Minority Leader Brad Jones of North Reading added, “This legislative package not only will provide immediate relief to consumers at the gas pump without jeopardizing the state’s bond rating or its transportation funding commitments, but also will offer rebates and tax credits to help further ease the financial burden on the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.”

House Democrats, who like their counterparts in the Senate wield a super-majority margin, last week rejected a Republican-led effort to suspend the gas tax until prices fall below $3.70 per gallon.

Baker, a Republican, earlier this month hinted some interest in examining gas tax relief before joining top Democrats on Monday in suggesting the idea is not worth the costs it would carry. Instead, Baker wants lawmakers to act on a $700 million tax relief package he filed aimed at the state’s estate and short-term capital gains taxes, credits for seniors and child care, renters and low-income earners.