House Republicans Urge Gov. Lamont To Scrap CT's Truck Tax

CONNECTICUT — Though it has not yet been implemented, the truck tax Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law over the summer is in the crosshairs of state House Republicans, who want Lamont to scrap it.

The highway usage fee would calculate taxes based on the truck's weight and the number of miles driven in Connecticut, and it is set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

Over time, annual revenue to the state could exceed $90 million, according to estimates, which would go toward fixing Connecticut's infrastructure. But Republicans have long considered the tax to be controversial, and they are urging Lamont not to implement it because of the federal dollars the state is poised to receive under the recently passed infrastructure bill signed by President Joe Biden.

"From staffing problems to supply chain issues, and rising fuel prices to inflation, Connecticut businesses face a multitude of challenges and will for the foreseeable future," said state House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora in a statement. "They're making decisions today knowing they'll have to pay this truck tax down the line—maybe it's putting a new hire on hold, or simply making-do with outdated equipment. For them, paying a highway usage tax on the trucks they use to deliver goods and provide services to their customers is an added burden they can't afford. The governor can make their lives easier now, and make our state's economic recovery happen faster, by abandoning this ill-conceived truck tax."

The policy was passed along party lines, Republicans said, despite their objections, and opposition by some trucking and grocery industry advocates, who said the legislation would result in higher prices for consumers.

At the time, many of the state Democratic leaders argued that the tax was needed due to the intense wear-and-tear placed on Connecticut's roadways by tractor-trailer trucks, the monetary burden of which fell into the laps of the state's taxpayers.

"We can't underestimate the importance of this moment," said Rep. Devin Carney, Ranking Member of the state House Transportation Committee. "We're on the verge of receiving more than $5 billion from the federal government for infrastructure projects, and this is an opportunity for all of us to hit the reset button—to take a fresh look at the mechanics and future of the Special Transportation Fund as well as the process we use to prioritize projects."

Carney continued, "While we appreciate the governor's recent change-of-heart regarding TCI and tolls, we also believe he should stop the controversial truck tax from being implemented. The cost of living here is rapidly increasing and we firmly believe the most effective way to provide some relief is to stop this tax before it takes effect and becomes a permanent part of the landscape. It would give residents a little breathing room and finally put substance behind the message the governor has been struggling to deliver—that Connecticut is a state where leaders are serious about taking steps toward making it a place where businesses and families can thrive."