CROMWELL, CT - The Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association (ICPA), representing the majority of the state's retail motor fuels outlets that sell gasoline and diesel fuel, called on the General Assembly to repeal the forthcoming 5-cent per gallon increase in the state's diesel tax when it meets in Special Session on June 12. The 5-cent increase per gallon is slated to take effect July 1.

ICPA President Gene Guilford said in a news release: "According to the Federation of Tax Administrators, Connecticut already has the highest state diesel taxes in the United States and adding another 5-cents a gallon to what is already a punishing, uncompetitive and regressive 46.2-cents a gallon is unnecessary and needs to be repealed before it goes into effect July 1." Guilford added, "Connecticut's existing state diesel excise tax makes our state grossly uncompetitive with our neighboring states to the extent that truckers who transit Connecticut avoid buying diesel fuel here in favor of less expensive states such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Jersey."

Without taxes, Connecticut??s diesel fuel prices are about the same as everywhere else in the region. With taxes, Connecticut has the second highest diesel fuel prices in the region and the highest state diesel taxes in the nation.

The ICPA notes that now is the time for the General Assembly, in light of what is already a grossly uncompetitive and punishing level of state diesel excise taxes, to stop the forthcoming 5-cents per gallon increase.