Democrats in the Suffolk County Legislature are proposing an alternative tax exemption to help ease woes at the gas pump.

Instead of the much hyped county gas tax cap, lawmakers are asking the state for three weeks of tax-free clothing in 2007. Vivian Viloria Fisher (D-Setauket) says parents of young children have no choice but to buy new clothes for their growing families. Democrats say the tax-free weeks would cost the county only about $6.5 million, compared to around $22 million for the gas cap.

Many residents say the tax-free clothing weeks, which would be around Memorial Day, Labor Day and the week leading up to Thanksgiving, do not provide them any immediate relief at the gas pump. Suffolk Republicans say they will continue to push for a gas tax cap. Suffolk Executive Steve Levy says he is in favor of both the tax-free weeks and the gas tax cap.

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