August 17, 2009

Colapietro urges probe of rising gas prices

Press release from state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat:

SEN. COLAPIETRO ASKS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE ESCALATING GAS PRICES

Argument that pump price it tied to the cost of crude not holding water

Hartford - State Senator Thomas A. Colapietro, Senate chair of the General Assembly’s General Law Committee, today asked Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to investigate why the cost of gasoline at pumps across Connecticut is going up while the price of a barrel of crude oil remains down.

I do not like being at the mercy of the gas pump, and I’m sure there are plenty of folks who feel the same,” Senator Colapietro wrote in a letter to the attorney general today. I cannot explain why a drop in crude prices is not reflected at the pump, and I have concerns that consumers could be facing price gouging when they fill up their tanks.

Senator Colapietro wrote, “The increase in gas prices we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks goes against the logic that we’ve heard over the past few years, that the cost of gas is dependent on the price of a barrel of crude oil. While a comparison of gasoline rack prices and closing costs for a barrel of crude oil seem to be in-line with this logic, it’s been my experience that the drop in crude prices is not being reflected at the pump.”

Crude oil closed at $67.51 on the New York Mercantile Exchange on Friday, August 14. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Connecticut today is $2.807.

Consumers are being told—not asked—to bear the brunt of this financial crisis,” Senator Colapietro wrote. I personally think it’s unfair that rates are being increased on virtually everything when consumers are having their paychecks held at no increase.”

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Argument that pump price **it** tied to the cost of crude not holding water
`````````````````````````

Gotta love spell check ... ;-)

Anonymous said...

The Senator and his colleagues in Hartford have had ample opportunities to curtail gas pricing in the past. This is very odd timing.

Perhaps the state should look at modifying the way it taxes gasoline. While I'm not an expert, it is taxed twice, and those costs are passed on to consumers in the per gallon pricing. We first pay a tax proportional to the cost of the fuel for the luxury of buying gas, and then, since that wasn't enough, we pay a per-gallon sales tax on top of that.

If the Senator is truly concerned he can work with his colleagues to lower or cap these taxes, thus driving down the cost immediately, while not impacting the profits of the franchise owners that sell the gas and pay income taxes to the state as well.

Anonymous said...

1:52 And you have doe what !!!!! Except moan.

Anonymous said...

And the gas taxes were cut but you and your oil company friends took the profits and you "Jerk"s can't even tell the difference. Like I said (if your capable) try to so something constructive besides cry !

Anonymous said...

Tom, it is because Obama is not running this year. Wait until he is up for reelection, then you'll see prices come down.

Anonymous said...

Nice guess Jerk 8:39 but wrong gal (as usual)

Anonymous said...

Dear 3:43 and 4:46 (likely one in the same)

Here's what I have done...

*actively supported candidates for the legislature that share my views

*opposed candidates whose ideals are not in keeping with my principles

*written letters to editors and elected officials stating the rationale for supporting legislation limiting taxes such as these

And, here's what I will do going forward:

*vote against Tom Colapietro, Chris Wright, and any other clown that supports this nonsense

*consider running against them

*continue to point out when schmoes like you ask what I "have doe"

*not tolerate it when pointing out fact is called moaning

*cut my imaginary oil company friends from my Christmas card list and add you...

Matt from Plymouth said...

And in Mid July the price of crude oil was below $60.00 a barrel. So an increase of over 10% in a month would explain the increase in gas prices.

I cannot explain why crude costs what it costs but if you're going to argue about the cost of gas increasing is not relative to the cost of crude you should at least spend five minutes on the internet verifying your hypothesis.

RE: 3:53pm - I believe 1:52 did explain what he/she would do when stating

"If the Senator is truly concerned he can work with his colleagues to lower or cap these taxes, thus driving down the cost immediately, while not impacting the profits of the franchise owners that sell the gas and pay income taxes to the state as well."

Or did I miss something?

Anonymous said...

Yeah ,Yeah, Yeah. Same ol same ol.Tears on your pillow. Always after the fact. Can't think on your own still.

Anonymous said...

If the Senator is truly concerned he can work with his colleagues to lower or cap these taxes, thus driving down the cost immediately, while not impacting the profits of the franchise owners that sell the gas and pay income taxes to the state as well."
He did smart ass! "Twice" Where you been Matt?

Anonymous said...

9:28 As usual I'm asking "What issue are we talking about?" Or are we discussing your usual hate mongering agenda!

Matt from Plymouth said...

Anonymous(not you, the other one, no the other one) -

Who did what twice?

If you're implying Sen. C. voted twice to reduce the tax, fine. That does not change the fact CT has the fourth highest overall gas tax in the nation and second highest tax on diesel in the nation. These taxes may still be a touch too high. This was the point of the original post I referenced.

Anonymous said...

Connecticut's highways also don't have tolls. The money has to come from someplace. I would rather pay more at the pump than have to deal with stupid tollbooths.

Anonymous said...

You're so smart look at the web site and the record you'll see that Colapietro passed the banning on zone pricing in the senate twice, Jerk. And you still don't see that anyone voted to reduce the gas tax because you and your Jerk friends ate it up in profits. Try the truth once in a while , it really don't hurt that much.

Anonymous said...

Colapietro:

Worries about gas (and the public employee's pay) but not about raising your taxes.

What a hypocrite.

Matt from Plymouth said...

Voting to eliminate banning zone pricing is not the same as reducing taxes.

One is done to regulate pricing levied by the supplier the other is done to regulate costs levied by the state.

The original point was to shine light on a post from a individual that suggested lower the cost of gas by lowering the gas tax. A valid suggestion, one I support.

Dude, why so hostile?

As an aside should the second use of jerk be capitalized? I'm comfortable with the first being capitalized but the second usage? I would have gone with small "j" jerks because you are using it as an adjective not a proper noun.

Anonymous said...

Matt stop lying to us all. The record says that the gas tax was cut and now you can't even tell. I'm hostile because you lie.You must like to pay for higher prices in gas.

Anonymous said...

Yep ! Jerk !!!!!

Anonymous said...

Matt from Plymouth is trying to convince us that he is smarter than everyone .Truthfully he really is an educated " Jerk" You don't make mistakes do you ? Ever hear of typo? Or better yet ever admit to doing anything wrong?

Anonymous said...

Funny Matt from Plymouth doesn't have anything nasty to say about his own Hamzy's press release which is not quite the truth either. I guess your not so smart after all ......just evil.

Matt... said...

I have never wrote a Bill Hamzy press release. A letter to the editor in support of Bill, yes.

Tell me when the gas tax cut. Educate me.

A lie implies I'm intentionally misleading the public, I am not.
My first response was regard to the increase in crude oil over the last month which is a fact. My second was in defense of a poster who recommended a gas tax cut.

I never stated that the gas tax was never cut.

I'm trying have a rational conversation and all that get is called a jerk and evil.

Anonymous said...

Hey union pawn Colapietro...why don't you tell us all why our municipal, state and federal taxes are going up?

Anonymous said...

Look it up yourself Matt . Your so smart! And if the shoe fits wear it. Jerk ! What is the intellegent conversation about whining partisonship ?

Anonymous said...

Awwwww is the poor Matt getting picked on? He is so smart why then is he reading the Hamzy part wrong? You Jerks get back what you put out. Like I said a long time ago,"if you can't take it STOP" And Matt if your such a fair minded guy why are you insinuating that Colapietro is the cause of the price of taxes?
? C'mon we can see through you!

Anonymous said...

August 19, 2009 5:40 AM:

Colapitro isn't the "cause" of anything. He's just a pawn, a stooge for the big-union, socialist bosses. But give him credit, he moved up from being a press operator...to union thug...to state senator.

But I guess there a good argument for the fact that he is part of the problem. That problem is of higher taxes and an unfriendly business climate in Connecticut.

Anonymous said...

Yawn.....The boring "losers" are at it again.....and again I ask "what issue did you do anything about/" Except complain I mean.

Anonymous said...

5:40.....Boring and old coming from you losers. And what is it about this issue ? You guys are in fact proving to all of us you are biased Jerks!

Matt... said...

I don't feel like I'm getting picked on, I'm just trying discuss a topic like an adult.

I did try to find when the gas tax rate was cut and could not. Doesn't mean it wasn't, means I can't find it. The last reference to a gas tax cut in CT was in 2000 and it was simply proposals. I could not find an information if that was implemented. So if you can tell me when, thanks.

However I could find where the State instituted an increase the rate of the gross reciepts tax on gas in 2005.

As a member of the state legislature Sen C., along with Rep. Hamzy, and all the D's and R's in the State House and State Senate are responsible for voting on a budget. They vote on the bills that set the spending and generate revenue.

So if as a member of the State Senate Sen. Colapietro votes for a bill that raises the gas tax he, along with every other member of the State legislature that votes to raise the gas tax, is the cause of the gas tax.

Anonymous said...

It just goes to show you tah you don't know when the gas tax was raised or cut yet you continue to criticize Colapietro. The fac is that each penny cut on the gas tax cut is 13million dollars. It was in fact cut by Hamzy and Colapietro. You can do your own research It's true. I am glad that these two are not as partison as you. We wouldn't be able to get anything done. Complaining and whining and blaming when you don't know the whole story does nothing.

Anonymous said...

And remember Matt if either of these two vote against the budget they don't have the right to say what they did for their community.

Anonymous said...

Matt, it's not worth the effort. You're trying to reason with unreasonable people. And, yes, you are much smarter than they are.

Tom, hope you are enjoying your last term in office. We're not going to put up with your tax raising and union thuggery any longer. We can't afford you, and you are behind the times. There is no more New Departure.

Republicans and Democrats alike: please come up with good candidates for Tom's job next time around.

Anonymous said...

You Jerks should talk about being unreasonable. What do you talk about that makes any sense. No proof just mouth !!! You just can't take your own dumb medicine!

Anonymous said...

9:09 You Republicans don't have any candidates. Try convincing the rest of the world to think like you. Ha !!!!

Anonymous said...

9:09 And (Yawn) same old stuff! Try different kinds of lies that crap hasn't worked for years. Maybe you should try being nice for a change. (If you can )

Anonymous said...

To 9:09 You are so lucid. The truth really hurt that much ?

Anonymous said...

Gee I thought this was supposed to be about the gas! Why are you all talking about Senator Colapietro? You sure don't like him do you? We should be talking about the issue at hand not your political agenda.

Anonymous said...

The headline starts with Colapietro...

This is about "gas". The gas that is coming from a gas-bag, union thug ignoramus.

Anonymous said...

Colapetrol should cut the gas tax.

Anonymous said...

August 21, 2009 12:56 AM:

Agreed!

...and it's as easy as ABC (anybody but Colapietro)

Anonymous said...

August 21, 2009 10:26 AM:
You make no sense.

But the fact is that the union bosses and thugs rule Colapietro's world.

Anonymous said...

Hey Steve I thought this was supposed to be about news. Not a venting blog for dissidents. How come you allow this ? Some anonynmous persons personal opinion belongs on My Space !

Anonymous said...

August 21, 2009 12:40 PM:

You're right about one thing... the "old" part.

It's "old" news that Colapietro is backed, funded by and is totally ingratiated to the unions.

Anonymous said...

Can't you old clowns think of anything new? Same ol Hatemongers. I don't think if I knew you I would like you and your cowardly attitude!

Anonymous said...

Give it up, Tom.

Anonymous said...

Matt if your so smart why can't you find that the gas tax was in fact cut by 7 cents and you still can't see that cut yet because it was eaten up in profits. Funny you can only find what you think bolster your partisan case. That's not adulthood.Stop trying to pretend your a nice common sense guy, You're a partisan republican and it shows.

Anonymous said...

I thought Matt was a Democrat.

Anonymous said...

Matt is for Matt !