Local legislators who are looking for ways to ease their constituents' pain at the gas pump have their eyes on the state gasoline tax.

State Rep. John Lepper, RAttleboro, is co-sponsoring legisla tion that would temporarily lift the 21-cent-a-gallon tax on gaso line.

The moratorium, if passed, would last through the end of the year when, hopefully, some of the hurricane damage to oil supplies will have been repaired.

Lepper said state legislators are powerless to increase supplies of gasoline. The only tool at their disposal is the gasoline tax.

`` I had to ask, `What's under my control? What can I do?' '' he said. The answer was to join an effort to lift the tax.

With prices zooming well over the $3-a-gallon mark, the morato rium is sure to have bi-partisan appeal.

State Rep. Philip Travis, DRehoboth, said he likes the idea.

`` I've always felt that if Republi cans come up with a decent idea, I would take a look at it,'' he said.

Travis said the only change he would make in the proposal is a caveat that if the situation improves before the end of the year and prices drops below $2.50, the tax would be reinstated.

He said the moratorium will cost the state an estimated $175 million in revenue that would oth erwise go toward road and bridge projects.

The Legislature is in recess at the moment, but can be called back anytime the House speaker and Senate president want.

The only definite item on the near-term agenda for the Legisla ture is a Sept. 14 constitutional convention to deal with the gay marriage issue.

Like a refugee

Hurricane Katrina and the dis aster in New Orleans raises the question of when was the last time the word refugee was applied to Americans. Was it the Dust Bowl? The Civil War?

It is common to hear of refugees in Africa, Asia and other underdeveloped regions, but it must be generations since it was used in the United States?

Healey chance boosted

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey's guber natorial chances got a boost this week when Charlie Baker said he will not run for governor next year.

Baker, the CEO of Harvard Pil grim Health Care, is a former high-ranking official in the Weld administration.

He said family considerations prevent him from making a run at this time.

Baker also said campaign finance considerations were a fac tor because he had not yet started raising money.

Healey not only has consider able personal wealth at her dis posal, she has been raising money all year.

Baker's decision pretty much clears the way for Healey in the Republican Party, should Gov. Mitt Romney decide to skip a reelection bid in favor of a shot at the White House.

Not having a primary opponent would save Healey millions of campaign dollars that she can now spend defeating her eventual Democratic opponent in the gener al election.

JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com. His column appears on Saturdays.