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Senate Republicans passed a measure this week that would lower the cost of gas for this summer’s holiday weekends.

“People are absolutely struggling and those gas taxes are killing blue collar families," said State Senator Greg Ball.

The bill would suspend state taxes on gas, saving an average of $5 per fill-up.

Republicans said it would cost the state about $60 million, which Assembly Ways and Means Chair Denny Farrell said could disrupt a carefully balanced budget.

"We could end up taking a $100 million out if we’re not careful, on taxes,” said Farrell. “If that were to happen, I don’t know what we’re going to cut to replace it.”

While the Assembly did not pass the Senate’s bill in time for Memorial Day weekend, Farrell said they haven’t completely ruled it out.

“It would take a while,” said Farrell. “We’re going to continue to look at it. We’ve got the Fourth of July holiday and Labor Day holidays to look at and we’ll see then.”

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats criticized the gas tax holiday bill, calling it a short term fix.

“Instead of coming up with a plan and putting something on the floor that we can pass that would in fact help the pocketbooks of the constituents of the state, they come up with a gimmick,” said State Senator Kevin Parker.

Instead, they’re pushing a seven-bill plan that includes incentives for drivers to buy energy efficient cars. Those incentives would include tax breaks, expanded discounts with E-Z Pass, making alternative fuels more available along State roads and expanding state laws that encourage home owners to purchase clean renewable energy to power their homes.

“We can harness the power of alternative energy to deliver long-term relief for taxpayers,” said StateSenate Minority Leader John Sampson.

The alternative energy package has bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly.