Following the lead of the State’s Conservative Party a handful of Republican Assemblymen led by Jim Hayes have called for an immediate suspension of the State’s portion of the sales taxes placed upon gasoline. They have requested that the four percent sales tax – which is just a small portion the myriad gasoline levies and taxes - be suspended through the current oil crisis.

Were this thought to be enacted upon by the State Legislature it would save motorists over ten cents a gallon. According to the Federal Trade Commission the average household consumes over 1,200 gallons of gasoline per year. Assuming that equates to 300 gallons of consumption over the final quarter of 2005, the elimination of the sales tax would save every family approximately $33.

At first glance to many consumers, and perhaps to less proactive members of the State Legislature, this may seem to be a negligible number not worthy of political debate. But, it is a savings nonetheless and, to many consumers, $33 is a considerable sum. To someone working a minimum wage job this equates to a day’s pay, post-Uncle-Sam. To unfortunate individuals on fixed incomes it means much more. Even to the most affluent it means something. Every little bit helps consumers of all income levels when it is taken into consideration that Americans are paying 40% more for gas than they were a year ago. Public sentiment during this era of skyrocketing fuel costs should almost force this proposed tax cut to occur. If this is the case it should bring with it a domino affect as it can then be assumed a similar tax cut will be offered on home heating fuels during the coming winter months.

It should be known, though, that the merits of this proposal are greater than just this $33 alone. A tax-cut proposal such as this is worthy of consideration because it bucks the trend of reckless taxation so common to New York’s checkered past (and present). Jim Hayes, his Republican brethren and the Conservatives are on to something with the methods deployed with this proposed cut. They are setting a precedent by eliminating an excise in its entirety.

Rarely does this happen in New York State. Despite bureaucratic claims indicating cuts are being made in services offered at all levels of government within the Empire State, our taxes still rise annually. This legalized theft accounts for the reason we pay 48% more in taxes than the rest of the nation. This is because the act of saving taxpayers some money is a highly tenuous endeavor within our borders as we New Yorkers are taxed, tolled, and expensed for anything and everything under the sun. The traditional way of handling tax "cuts" here is to maintain the status quo, adjust for the cost of living, strive for minimal increases through the aforementioned supposed cuts of services, or initiation of unfunded state mandates, the latter ultimately increasing local taxes regardless. In such scenarios all hidden taxes and fees are maintained and are assumed to be the standard way of doing business.

The Right’s new proposal shatters this standard and has the potential to offer immediate and, perhaps, long-term rewards to the State’s taxpayers and its economy as a whole. Optimistically, this gasoline savings proposal may be the catalyst that changes the tax climate in New York. Tax cutting through the outright elimination of the taxes and levies themselves may seem simple. Yet, it is so different from normal bureaucratic practices that it could actually be considered a profound methodology, one that could prove quite successful with the appropriate folks leading the charge.

It is hoped such a mindset continues and is passed on to all facets of the state’s taxation operations. In a perfect world, one could assume this mentality would be contagious and bring about the gradual elimination of some of our hidden fees, layered taxes, and the like. With baby steps like this maybe New York State can be saved, a little bit at a time.