Mass. Gov. Healey files bill to suspend state gas tax, citing Trump, war in Iran

Tim Dunn, Boston Herald on Sep 22, 2026

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Gov. Maura Healey is calling for a two-month suspension of the 24-cents per gallon state gas tax, filing legislation Tuesday just days after her Republican challenger in the general election, Mike Minogue made the same call as gasoline prices continue to climb.

“If you go back to February, before the start of Donald Trump’s war, gas was about $2.90 a gallon. It’s now up over $4.40 a gallon, OK? Look at diesel: Diesel back in February was about $4.20 a gallon. It’s now up to about $6.20 a gallon,” Healey told reporters as she announced her planned gas tax suspension, going on to blame President Donald Trump and the War in Iran for the high prices at the pump.

“This war was totally avoidable, totally avoidable. And it’s the result of a direct choice by Donald Trump to get us into a war that we shouldn’t have been in in the first place, to get into a war with no plan to get out, and to be in a situation where we’ve got soldiers in harm’s way and back home, we are paying the price. We’re paying the price every which way, including at the pump,” she said.

Healey’s announcement came just days after Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue made the same call. Minogue held a press conference just outside the State House Tuesday as Healey’s announcement came to a close, equating it to a campaign stunt when informed of the announcement by the Herald.

“She’s doing this as a response, but it’s only for two months because she’s going to push everything to right after the election and go back to overtaxing our people right after the election. At that point, I will be elected. We’re going to make history on November 3rd. We need to get a new kind of governor that doesn’t pander to people, that actually campaigns and does what they say they’re going to do,” Minogue said.

“Maura Healey has been in office for four years with a completely Democrat legislature. Only now is she talking about lowering our costs, lowering our energy costs. Her time is up,” he said.

Minogue also responded to claims by Healey that he supports the war in Iran, while continuing her campaign tactic of tying him to Trump.

“I want the war in Iran to end as soon as possible. I think everyone does. What I also want is to help people right now that are struggling to pay their gas bill. I proposed this in September 10th,” he said.

Healey’s announcement, as well as her legislation, is a complete turnaround from previous statements against suspending the state gas tax, where she has called it a “gimmick” and instead called on Massachusetts to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels.

The idea has not seen support from the state’s other top legislative leaders, including House Speaker Ron Mariano, who has stated a state gas tax suspension is not “a real serious attempt to provide relief,” also calling it a “political stunt.”

“It was a different time. We weren’t at war. We didn’t have a president in Donald Trump who every day is jacking up the cost of everything. And we didn’t know a situation where it looks like there’s no end in sight and no plan,” Healey said when pressed by reporters on her change in tune. “We didn’t have a situation where you had tariff taxes on everything and drastic cuts to health care and housing and infrastructure.”

The Massachusetts Republican Party is calling out Healey for “stealing” Minogue’s original idea.

“When Democrats have to steal great Republican ideas six weeks before an election, you know they realize their policies just aren’t working for the people,” MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said in a written statement.

“Either way, it is nice to see Mike Minogue is already achieving results for taxpayers. Thanks Mike!,”

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance says Healey should apply her stance on a two-month break at the pump to the statewide climate energy mandates that many say have been driving up soaring energy costs in the Bay State.

“Governor Healey is right about one thing: Massachusetts families need relief from high energy costs. Suspending the gas tax recognizes that government-imposed costs matter when families are struggling to afford energy, but that same principle should apply to the multiple costly climate and energy mandates imposed by Beacon Hill,” said MassFiscal Executive Director Paul Craney, going on to call Healey’s pitch an “election ploy.”

“A two-month gas tax holiday is temporary relief that’s clearly an election ploy, insulting the intelligence of Massachusetts voters. The big picture costs of Massachusetts’ energy mandates appears on utility bills month after month and year after year,” he said.

As of Tuesday, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded fuel is $4.40, below the national average of $4.47, according to the latest update from AAA. With the state gas tax suspended, that statewide average would drop to $4.16 per gallon for regular gas.

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