Christine Palm

Dear Neighbor,

 

In a Special Session held Monday, my colleagues and I voted — on a bipartisan basis — on an omnibus bill aimed at lessening some of the financial burden many families are experiencing. The bill extends gas tax relief, extends free bus service, provides additional funding for energy assistance programs, continues premium pay for frontline workers, and slightly amends the Bottle Bill to make it easier for retailers to be in compliance.

How will this relief affect you?

The current suspension of the 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax was set to expire today — November 30. With numerous factors — including the war in Ukraine — still causing increased gas prices, we voted to cut $90 million in gas taxes by extending the gas tax suspension for an additional month, then offering reduced gas tax prices (a kind of “phase-out) through April 2023. 

 

I want to put on the record that I don’t believe simply reducing prices at the pump is the answer! We need to find long-term, sustainable ways to address our reliance on fossil fuels. This tax reduction is, in many ways, a bandaid. But as we all know, sometimes bandaids are indicated to stop the bleeding. 

Free Bus Service was also scheduled to end on November 30. The bill we passed extends the Free Bus Service through March 31, 2023. Because fares were halted in April 2022, collection must resume on April 1, 2023, in order for us to remain compliant with federal rules. 

Every Connecticut family should have the resources they need to stay warm throughout the winter. I am proud to share that we approved $30 million in additional ARPA funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 

 

To learn more and apply for energy assistance, click the button below: 

We also voted to increase funding for Operation Fuel, an additional energy assistance resource for qualifying low-income families. The increase in funding is sourced by requiring PURA to direct at least 95% of specified proceeds to Operation Fuel, which is expected to roughly double the resources available. 

 

To learn more about Operation Fuel, or to apply for upcoming assistance beginning December 19th, please click the button below: 

Once again, allocating more money is not a long-term solution. We need to fundamentally change how energy is procured and delivered. Please read my op-ed on this subject HERE.

Since the start of the pandemic, I have said that hanging “Hero” signs and red hearts in trees is an empty gesture unless we are willing to actually spend the money to remunerate people for their lifesaving, essential work. That’s why I was proud to support premium pay for over 100,000 Connecticut workers who were on the front lines throughout the pandemic. Our goal is to provide the lowest-income essential worker applicants (those making less than $50,000) with the majority of the financial aid. The amount of premium pay is phased in, depending on the worker’s income. While I realize those making more than $50,000 will be disappointed by the partial payment, there simply were more applicants than funds available.