ST. PAUL — State Rep. Mark Buesgens has introduced legislation that would give Minnesota motorists a break from high gas prices at the pump by suspending the state gas tax.

The legislation suspends the 20-cent per gallon Minnesota state tax on gasoline until March 1, 2008. The bill would apply to gasoline, gasoline blended with ethanol, and agricultural alcohol gasoline.

Buesgens also proposes using the state's surplus revenue to fill the hole created by the suspension of the tax.

"This is a win-win proposal," Buesgens said. "We suspend the gas tax to provide immediate relief to our families, and still keep the highway construction coffers full with revenue from the budget surplus."  

"With gas prices over $3 per gallon, motorists are getting squeezed at the pump and there is no relief in sight. In fact, the squeeze is getting even tighter with proposals to raise the gas tax by 7.5 cents," said Buesgens, a Republican from Jordan. "It is time to give motorists a tax break and suspend the gas tax."

When combined with the 18.4-cent federal gas tax and a two-cent state "environment and storage" add-on, Minnesota residents pay a total of 40.4 cents in taxes and fees per gallon of gasoline purchased, he said.

"In a time of economic distress such as we are experiencing with soaring gasoline prices, elected officials must put the family's pocket book above the state treasury," said Buesgens.