Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda) today joined members of the Assembly Minority Program Committee and representatives from the Western New York branch of the American Automobile Association in Amherst to call for the suspension of the state sales tax on various fuels until the end of the year.

Giglio and Assemblymen Jim Hayes (R-Amherst), Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) and Jack Quinn (R-Hamburg) joined together in supporting the suspension. Since the Assembly minority conference first called for suspension of the state sales tax on fuel in 2000, the average price of gasoline has risen by more than $1 per gallon. In the last year alone, the cost has gone up 32 percent.

"The skyrocketing price of fuel and the upcoming Labor Day holiday travel time are going to cause more economic hardships for motorists across New York," said Giglio. "I stand committed to bringing relief to the residents, visitors and businesses in the Southern Tier and around the state. Rising fuel costs hurt residents, businesses and tourists, and these surging gas costs are damaging our economy."