Today State Senator Len Suzio R-Meriden & Middletown, lead a rally at Hiba Gas Station on South Main Street. Suzio has drafted a bill to propose a cap on state tax on gasoline, which he says is supposed to be used on road repair and bridge work, however, this revenue is being put back into the general fund.
“ I feel the people of Connecticut are getting gouged,” Senator Suzio said, " Matt Lesser came out and spoke against price gouging during the hurricane, but what about the rest of the year? The gouging that goes on everyday? That's why I am here.", statement that drew applause from the crowd gathered.
Currently CT's state gas tax is 47 cents per gallon. This 47 cents gross receipts tax is in addition to the state flat tax of 23 cents on each gallon of gasoline. This spring, it is projected that the price for gasoline will extend beyond $4 a gallon. The tax is currently 7.5%- the highest in the country. Suzio has a petition started on his website. The senator is also challenging the current taxes on Social Security benefits. Local Middletown Councilwoman Debra Kleckowski, Councilmen Phil Pessina, & Joe Bibisi were there to lend support.
* location corrected
Please define "large turnout". Looks like 40-50 including some peoples' kids who don't really understand the issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Senator Suzio's comments about capping the gas tax because gas is already too high. In the MP video, I noticed the crowd were made up of mostly Republican voters. If Suzio wants to have credibility for his proposal I suggest that he does not do a staged rally with only his Republican supporters. Did he announce to the public that he was going to have this rally in advance so other members of the public could attend? I don't believe he did. This demonstration was staged & because of this it makes me wonder if Suzio is just doing it to get reelected in November. This is just pre-election hype!
ReplyDeleteThis comment really upsets me. the rally was posted in the courant, patch, ctnewsjunkie, ctmirror, etc. it was not in the press, which does not suprise me as many things are not which do not suit the editors fancy that day. I do not like how folks think the Press is the only place to put public notices and if its written in the Press its gospel. However they did send a reporter this time and another guy driving by whipped out his phone to video. This comment was left in the press too; with allegations this was staged as well. If friends who are all membets of MRTC emailing and meeting for a common interest is considered staged then so be it. We went for coffee and cookies after too; please joun next time its no secret club. There is always someone in the crowd to rain on your parade or in this case rally. The one student protest of Giulianos SEEC appointment with five news crews covering was not staged yet news worthy? I apologize, I would have posted here but I did not want to hear comments of the Eye being partisan today as is par for the course. Damed if you do damned if you don't.
ReplyDeletei count 16 people in the photo. I would not call that a large turnout. maybe the photo is not showing the whole crowd. but i would take more issue with that than anything else.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans are very bitter & angry people.
ReplyDeleteabout 35 people showed, not counting the two state reps and state.rep candidate. many at the gas station came over to talk. medium crowd? large-ish? there is a video on the press. if there is anything that readers eould like covered please email the Eye. reader suggestions have broadened my view and I am always open to trying new things.
ReplyDeleteThe photo looks like there were about 20 people at the "staged rally" not 35-40 people.
ReplyDeletethis station is actually located at Pamecha and South Main St, it's the Gulf Station. The one at Warwick is smaller and does not have the same signage out front.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that gas station at the corner of Pameacha and South Main? The one on the corner of Warwick is the Citgo built into the laundromat building.
ReplyDeleteA minor point but considering the issue the owners would probably appreciate it being right.
Thank you for the correction, my apologies, I corrected the location.
ReplyDeleteNice to see people who make everything political when the issue affects us all. This is not about republican or democratic, but about a regressive tax in our state.
ReplyDeleteThe questioning of the crowd is typical of those who do nothing but sit on blogs and bitch. Unlike you my name will go with my post
not being twisted into being political - it IS political. The average person driving 200 miles per week in a car that gets 20 miles per gallon will save about $250. per YEAR on gas if the gas tax is reduced by 50cents per gallon. In other words the typical tank of gas will be maybe $35 instead of $40 and after filling up once a week for the year the person saved $5 per week X 52 weeks ... And before you start arguing that most people drive more than that, let's just double that estimate and say some people might save $500 per year. Saving money is saving money and everyone wants to spend less. But its not like this is going to afford anyone any real change in their expenses or lifestyle. It is just a ploy for Suzio to be able to say he is doing something to help citizens. Unfortunately I have to remain anonymous on this post.
ReplyDeletehttp://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/carpino-cap-the-gas-tax-now
ReplyDeleteThis was a staged protest to make Senator Suzio look good in a reelection year for him. Nothing more. Nothing Less. I would suggest that members of the Middletown GOP stop lying about how they publicized the event. Molly Salafia claimed that they informed the media about the event by posting the rally before hand on several news sites such as the Hartford Courant, Patch, CT News Junkie & CT Mirror so people would know about it. This never happened because I checked those websites if there were any announcements about the event and there were not any. So Bill Wilson I would suggest that the Middletown GOP would become more transparent about the events they sponsor.
ReplyDeletehttp://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/rep-lesser-to-hold-local-office-hours
ReplyDeleteOh my staged too!
shhhhh!!! don't tell but Suzio is meeting with the public tonight, sorry it's in a private home in Middletown, but all are welcome
ReplyDelete(and Mat Lesser is meet I Dunkin Donuts tonight, but that's not staged) I know there will be criticism, but here repeat of the public notice:
Wed 2/29 at 6:30 pm: A Fireside Chat w Len Suzio
59 Highmeadow Lane
A chance for constituents to talk to Len in an intimate setting. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
A Proudly staged.
"Looks like 40-50 including some peoples' kids who don't really understand the issue."
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe their parents don't have a handle on it, either.
Gas isn't $4 because of taxes, it is the market that determines that.
If we cut taxes and do nothing else, it just means more of the $4 goes to oil companies. Is that worth rallying for?