Posted on: Saturday, September 3, 2005
More states consider plans to cut gas prices
Advertiser News Services
High gasoline prices have resulted in an increasing number of states considering steps to cut fuel costs. Last week Hawai'i became the first state since the 1970s with a law that regulates wholesale gasoline prices.
Nationwide, the retail price of gasoline climbed yesterday to a record $2.87 a gallon for regular fuel, according to AAA, after the price of fuel for future delivery soared this week because of oil production shuttered by Hurricane Katrina that struck the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Steps taken toward lowering gas prices include:
New Jersey Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, promised Thursday to introduce a bill that would make New Jersey the second state to limit wholesale gasoline prices.
Connecticut's Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she wants the state to look at a number of options to alleviate the pain at the pump, including suspending the state's 25-cent per gallon gasoline tax. Connecticut Lt. Gov. Kevin Sullivan, meanwhile, said yesterday that the state should consider capping wholesale gas prices to save consumers money.
California Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove, introduced legislation to give the state authority to regulate the cost of fuel.
Georgia waived taxes on gasoline through the end of the month and one Oklahoma lawmaker is pressing for similar steps there. Massachusetts and other states also are considering creating a gasoline sales-tax holiday.
