Crisco helps defeat plan to raise state tax on oil, propane

HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, vice-chair of the legislature’s Commerce Committee, helped quash a bill under consideration by that committee that would have created a new tax on home heating oil and propane.
Crisco worked with the committee co-chairs to ensure the bill would not advance.

The initiative would have imposed a 1.5-cents-per-gallon tax on heating oil and propane that would’ve increased to 3.5-cents-per-gallon in two years; the revenue was to be used for state-run energy efficiency and conservation programs.

“No one questions the need to conserve energy and find more efficient means to heat, cool, and power Connecticut homes and businesses, but this proposal for an onerous, targeted tax on fuel oil and propane users would’ve punished the same consumers these programs are meant to help,” Senator Crisco said. “I’m pleased by the decision made by our committee co-chairs to discard this well-intentioned, but shortsighted bill.”

The legislation had been the subject of a public hearing earlier in the week at which energy suppliers, environmentalists, and consumer advocates testified.

“Connecticut’s economic recovery remains fragile and the last thing heating oil and propane consumers need is an arbitrary price increase, no matter how small and no matter for what good purpose,” Crisco added.
 “As a state we must continue our pursuit of energy conservation, alternate and renewable fuel supplies, and overall efficiency through other means, using other sources of revenue.”

This is a press release from Crisco's office.