Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue wants Massachusetts to temporarily suspend its gas tax, with gas prices now well over $4 per gallon.
Minogue’s campaign put out a new ad last Thursday calling for a gas tax holiday until prices decrease.
Massachusetts charges a 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue says the tax has been 24 cents per gallon since July 2013.
“A gas tax holiday is a common-sense solution for hard-working Massachusetts families. The Legislature must put the people first and get this done,” Minogue said. “As governor, I’ll do the audit and free up millions lost to waste, fraud, and abuse, allowing us to provide relief to Massachusetts families.”
Gas prices have gone up this year.
AAA put the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts at $4.40 last Friday. That’s up from $4.02 one month ago and $3.12 one year ago.
If the entire 24-cent tax cut reached consumers, someone buying 15 gallons of gas would save $3.60 per tank.
Gas prices are rising as the country remains at war with Iran.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. That started a war that’s now in its seventh month. The war has driven up oil and gas prices as fighting has disrupted energy markets and shipping in the Middle East, according to Reuters.
Oil now costs over $100 per barrel. Brent crude closed at $105.83 per barrel last Wednesday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $102.43, Reuters reported.
President Donald Trump has cited Iran’s nuclear program as one reason for the war.
No public evidence exists that Iran possesses a nuclear weapon. U.S. intelligence said in 2025 that Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon and that its supreme leader hadn’t authorized the nuclear weapons program suspended in 2003.
Iran had stockpiled highly enriched uranium and faced questions about its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency recently referred Iran to the United Nations Security Council over violations of its nonproliferation obligations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said for over 30 years that Iran was getting close to developing a nuclear weapon. He said in the early 1990s that Iran could become capable of developing and producing a bomb within three to five years.
Minogue’s ad hits Democratic Gov. Maura Healey over affordability.
It includes a clip of Healey saying, “That doesn’t make Massachusetts more affordable.”
That Healey comment came from a February interview with WCVB. She made it while opposing a ballot proposal that would cut the state income tax from 5% to 4%.
“Families shouldn’t have to keep paying more just to get to work, get their kids to school, or keep their businesses moving,” Minogue said. “Massachusetts can provide relief now. It’s time to put working families first.”
