Michigan Republicans Weighing GOP-Only Highway Bill
"We worked hard on bipartisan plans for some time, and I think it is possible that there would be a Republican-only plan," Snyder told reporters Nov. 3. “[I want to] get a good plan to my desk that can fix Michigan roads and is fiscally responsible."
Although both chambers are controlled by Republicans, the House-passed $1.2 billion legislation hasn’t received majority support in the Senate. There have been objections to the House formula of $600 million from the state’s general fund, $400 million from a 40% increase in vehicle registration fees and $200 million from a rise in fuel taxes, currently 19 cents on gasoline and 15 cents on diesel.
Senate Republicans seem to favor switching the latter pair of numbers. Snyder said “what would be an appropriate mix of essentially gas tax and registration fees" was being debated.
Michigan Trucking Association Executive Director Walt Heinritzi said that the group supports a diesel fuel tax and objected to the 40% increase in registration fees, currently $1,660 for an 80,000 pound truck.
Democrats, of course, were unhappy with the possible move to a Republican-only highway bill.
In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich said, “We've said all along we want a real fix for roads. The latest Republican plans aren't even close."
In a news release, House Minority Leader Tim Greimel said, “It’s clear that Lansing Republicans just cater to their wealthy friends, not the average working people who drive on crumbling roads to get to work every day."
