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Connecticut Republican candidate for governor State Sen. Ryan Fazio responded to Gov. Ned Lamont’s (D) criticism of President Donald Trump and recent high gas prices by pointing out that while Lamont supported a gas tax holiday four years ago during the Biden era, he has thus far opposed such a remedy that could give Connecticut residents some relief at the pump.
The issue was raised Thursday evening during the candidates’ first debate, sponsored by WFSB and CT Insider.
“Sen. Fazio, you had said on the campaign trail and also in the state legislature that the president's foreign policy has nothing to do with Connecticut,” asked WFSB political reporter Susan Raff. “But the reality – a lot of people will disagree with that. The high tariffs, the war in Iran, are having a financial impact on the pocketbooks of not only Connecticut residents, but residents across the country. In light of this, do you support President Trump's foreign policy?”
While Fazio said he has opposed the war in Iran, the issue concerns Connecticut and policy decisions by state political leaders.
“[T]he leaders of our state government have a responsibility to act and do what they can in order to provide relief when a problem arises, when a mistake is made,” the state senator said. “I've called for a gas tax holiday immediately to provide 25 cents per gallon of relief to you at the pump. Gov. Lamont supported a gas tax holiday four years ago when gas tax prices were high, but he's opposing it now when we have a way to provide relief, sometimes hundreds of dollars of relief to you and your family per month.”
Fazio explained the gas tax holiday would be paid for “because there is an existing surplus in the special transportation fund.”
“So, my question to Gov. Lamont is, what are you going to do about it? Fazio asked. “Why haven't you supported a gas tax holiday – which several Democrats and Republicans have shown support for – that would save the viewers 25 cents per gallon immediately in Connecticut, and would be fully financed for six months or more by the existing balances in the special transportation fund. You supported it four years ago. Why don't you support it now?”
Lamont replied that the special transportation fund is to “pay for our roads and bridges,” and then veered off into more criticism of the president.
“When the price of gasoline goes up $1.75 a gallon, that's costing our families, say $20 a week,” he said. “Look what they're doing on diesel. Look what they're doing on home heating oil that's going to double the price for you.”
Lamont added he put in place a $500 million fund to make up for home heating losses.
But Fazio pressed on, acknowledging that while “Gov. Lamont is right that families are struggling with high energy costs,” he could still give Connecticut families some relief:
But what are we going to do about it? There is an opportunity right now to cut people's gas prices at the pump by 25 cents per gallon. That's potentially hundreds of dollars per month for some families. It would be fully financed because the cost of that is just over $100 million dollars. But the existing surplus in the special transportation fund is $600 million, so we have a way to pay for it. You supported it four years ago. Why won't you support it now when people are in need?
But Lamont again denied he could use the special transportation fund, and appeared to be asserting the money would have to be borrowed – a “type of mentality,” he said, that led to problems saving money over the past 20 years.
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