Will N.C. Legislature Halt Gas Tax Hike?: Legislators Want to Stop Tax Increase, Consider Home Heating Price Cut

By Sharif Durhams, The Charlotte Observer, N.C., The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Dec. 30–RALEIGH — State House and Senate leaders say they want to discuss ways to cut gas and home heating fuel prices, an effort that comes as lawmakers and Gov. Mike Easley face increasing pressure to freeze the state’s gas tax.

But it’s not clear how quickly the lawmakers could act and it’s unlikely they will make a change before the state’s gas tax increases by 2.8 cents per gallon Sunday — the largest jump in 20 years.

Conservative groups have taken out radio ads and some Democratic lawmakers have written Easley asking for a special legislative session that would halt the gas tax increase and consider cutting taxes on home heating fuels, such as natural gas, kerosene and wood.

The gas tax automatically adjusts every six months based on the average price of gas and some parts of the state saw gas prices top $3 a gallon this fall, just after the Gulf Coast hurricanes disrupted fuel pipelines. Rate hikes approved earlier this year could cause winter natural gas bills to be 50 percent higher than last year.

But Easley said this week he won’t call a special session. His staffers have repeatedly said the state needs the gas tax money to maintain roads. The governor wrote a letter to five House Democrats this week, noting he’s already approved a $9.9 million fund to help low-income families with heating bills.

“I believe our values require that we help the neediest rather than provide across the board assistance that fails to target those hurting most,” the letter says.

Under the state constitution, three-fifths of House and Senate members would have to agree to a special session to get one without the governor’s blessing. Then, two-thirds of lawmakers would have to vote to override a veto, if Easley were still against it.

Julie Robinson, spokeswoman for House Speaker Jim Black, said the speaker talked to colleagues this week and “it didn’t appear there was enough support for calling a special session.”

“Obviously, gas prices have come back down, but we’re just now getting into winter, when heating prices are going to start hitting people’s pocketbooks,” Robinson said Thursday.

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