Massachusetts House rejects Governor Healey’s gas tax suspension plan

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has rejected Governor Maura Healey’s proposal to temporarily suspend the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax. The plan, intended to provide relief to residents facing rising fuel costs, was excluded from a nearly $2.4 billion supplemental spending bill.

House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz stated that lawmakers were not “comfortable” diverting approximately $120 million from critical transportation infrastructure projects. Additionally, officials cited concerns regarding whether the savings would effectively be passed down to consumers.

The rejection occurs amid a political campaign, with Republican challenger Michael Minogue criticizing the move as a “political stunt.” While the gas tax suspension was omitted, the broader spending bill includes $1.8 billion for MassHealth and increased funding for maternal mental health services and caseworkers for the Department of Transitional Assistance.