Ft. Hamilton Station, NY – Once again, the Conservative Party of New York State is encouraging every New Yorker to sign a petition to eliminate the 4% local gasoline sales tax.

Since May of 2001, when then Assembly Republican Leader John Faso called for the elimination of the 4% state sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuel from Memorial Day to Labor Day, to alleviate the heavy cost on families caused by the increasing cost of gasoline, the Conservative Party has been involved in the effort to end the windfall sales tax collected by the increasing cost of gasoline.

“In August of last year, we again called on the people of the State of New York to sign our petitions to suspend the 4% gasoline sales tax. Thousands of people signed the petitions across the state and still the legislature did not listen to its constituents,” Long stated. “The windfall New York has reaped, due to the increase in gasoline prices is unconscionable when families are struggling to fill up their gas tanks,” said Long.

“The state is set to cap the collection of gasoline tax at 8 cents, which is a limited relief and now we call on the City of New York and local governments around the state to at least do the same. Local governments would not lose any additional income and the hard working taxpayers would have a little more relief. However, we continue to firmly believe that suspension of the tax would be in the best interest of New Yorkers since the coffers have been filled beyond what was anticipated,” Long stated.

“Our new petitions can be accessed on our website at www.cpnys.org under our grassroots section or contact the office 718-921-2158 or upstate at 518-356-7882. New Yorkers need relief at the gas pump and eliminating the local 4% gasoline sales tax is the quickest way to accomplish it,” concluded Long.

-30-