Politics

How much is the gas tax? Martha Coakley doesn't know

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- How much is the gas tax here in the Bay State? Martha Coakley, attorney general and gubernatorial candidate, did not know. And one of her opponents is criticizing her.

Candidate for governor Charlie Baker says it shows how far removed Coakley is from issues affecting the average person. He says she should know, especially as attorney general.

With six months left before the election, Baker is only now choosing to be critical of Coakley. Why?

At a rally to overturn automatic gas tax hikes Baker called Coakley "out of touch" for saying in an interview that the gas tax was only 10 cents.

It's 24 cents.

Last year Beacon Hill lawmakers raised it, and tied future increases to inflation. And when a group organized a ballot initiative against that it was Coakley who had to certify the ballot initiative language.

“You would think she would know the gas tax is 24 cents. And to guess that it's 10 cents, which it hasn't been since 1983, I just think speaks to the fact that she's clearly completely out of touch the cost regular people,” Baker said.

When asked why he thinks she is leading in the polls by double digits, Baker said,” We have a great opportunity to take this state in a different direction. I’ve committed that I’m not going to raise taxes. It's pretty clear that Martha Coakley will.”

Baker has held off heavily criticizing Coakley even though he trails her in polls. Instead, he has pledged to focus on what he calls his "sunnier" side.

When asked if he had to be critical at this point given that Coakley is leading the polls, Baker said, “Oh I think for most voters in Massachusetts it matters a lot if the person who certified the ballot question and has watched the debate take place over the past eight years and is a career Beacon Hill politician hasn't noticed the gas tax is now 24 cents.”

FOX 25 tried talking with Coakley, but her campaign refused and released this statement: "Martha knows that the gas tax is a critical funding source to make the transportation infrastructure investments that are necessary to move Massachusetts forward."

The group that wants to repeal the automatic gas tax increases say they need $11,000 more signatures to get on the ballot by next month.

Coakley has said she opposes the ballot question.