Mass. Voters Reject Automatic Gas Tax Hikes

BOSTON — Massachusetts voters repealed automatic gas tax increases Tuesday.

According to Roll Call, 53 percent of voters in the Bay State decided to reverse a decision made by the state legislature in 2013 to raise the state’s gasoline tax every year by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Massachusetts’ state gas tax is currently 24 cents per gallon, higher than the national average of 20.5 cents per gallon. However, while motorists may rejoice at the voter decision, Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick said the repeal of the tax could have serious negative future implications.

It "threatens our ability to provide safe roads and bridges," he said.

The ballot initiative to repeal the automatic gas tax was spearheaded by Massachusetts resident Steven Aylward, who formed the Committee to Tank Automatic Gas Tax Hikes.

Prior to Election Day, the Massachusetts Republican Party also undertook a well-publicized campaign to get the state’s voters to repeal what it referred to as "The Forever Gas Tax."

Meanwhile, just over the border in New Hampshire, Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan was reelected Tuesday with 53 percent of the vote. Hassan recently signed into law an increase of New Hampshire's gas and diesel tax from 18 cents per gallon to 22.2 cents per gallon. Hassan defeated Republican Walt Havenstein, who opposed the gas tax increase.