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# House Budget Chairman Skeptical Of Healey Gas Tax Suspension
- URL: https://www.newbostonpost.com/michlewitz-skeptical-healey-gas-tax-suspension/
- Published: 2026-10-01T21:05:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-01T21:05:34.000Z
- Description: House Ways and Means chairman Aaron Michlewitz pointed to past House votes against suspending Massachusetts’ gas tax as lawmakers review Gov. Maura Healey’s proposal.
- Author: Tom Joyce
- Tags: Politics, Massachusetts, State Government, Taxes, Maura Healey, News, #lead, #morning-bell, morning-bell, #1

House Ways and Means chairman Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) expressed skepticism over whether Massachusetts will suspend the gas tax, as Governor Maura Healey proposed.

Michlewitz mentioned the House’s past votes against suspending the tax when State House News Service asked him about Healey's plan on Thursday.

“But you know, obviously those votes were pretty significantly against previously,” he [said](https://www.statehousenews.com/news/legislature/house-budget-chief-cool-to-healeys-gas-tax-suspension/article%5F02609e39-01f6-4ae4-81ef-647092ef01b6.html?ref=newbostonpost.com).

Healey wants to suspend the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon tax on gas and diesel for two months. She put the proposal in a $2.24 billion spending bill she filed September 23.

The House sent it to Michlewitz’s committee the next day. The Legislature’s [bill history](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5679?ref=newbostonpost.com) still showed no further action Thursday.

“Obviously we're reviewing it,” Michlewitz said.

He said his committee has several proposals to review in the measure. He also said he would talk with House members to see where they stand on the gas tax break.

The House voted 124-25 against another gas tax suspension proposal in April. State Representative Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) wanted to suspend the tax until the state’s average gas price fell below $2.50 per gallon.

Massachusetts gas prices averaged $4.36 per gallon Thursday, AAA reported.

Lawmakers who opposed past gas tax breaks argued that the state needs the money and that suspending the tax would hurt its bond rating.

Michlewitz didn't say if the House will also reject Healey’s plan.

“I don't want to speculate yet until we do our due diligence on working through, the working through, the bill. But I think there's certainly been skepticism on doing these types of initiatives in the past,” he said.

Healey says her proposal would cost $120 million. She wants to replace the lost tax money with surplus revenue from the state’s millionaire tax.

Her [bill](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5679.pdf?ref=newbostonpost.com) would start the gas tax holiday seven days after she signs it. It would require gas stations to cut their prices by 24 cents per gallon and keep records showing customers got the savings.

Past gas tax breaks haven’t given drivers the full savings.

A 2022 Wharton [study](https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/p/2022-06-15-effects-of-a-state-gasoline-tax-holiday/?ref=newbostonpost.com) found that drivers got between 58% and 87% of the savings from gas tax breaks in Maryland, Georgia and Connecticut. Some price cuts faded before the breaks ended.