The Arkansas House completed action last Friday on a plan to upgrade Arkansas highways by raising the diesel tax 4 cents a gallon during the next 12 months.

Lack of votes for a plan to impose an immediate 4-cent-a-gallon increase on diesel fuel prompted its sponsor to start talking compromise with supporters of another plan to phase in the higher taxes.

The Arkansas House Revenue and Taxation Committee today endorsed a Senate plan to put a greater tax burden on the trucking industry to pay for state highway improvements.

The attention on highway legislation turned back to the Arkansas House after the Senate passed a highway construction plan with higher diesel taxes that Gov. Mike Huckabee had said could wreck the program.

The Arkansas Senate is to vote Tuesday on a pair of House bills on improving highways but four state Senators are proposing changes that Gov. Mike Huckabee says could kill the measures.

The Arkansas Senate turns its attention to legislation that would place a heavier burden to fix the state's highways on truckers after the House passed a plan to raise both gas and diesel taxes.

TT File PhotoThe Arkansas House passed legislation Wednesday to raise fuel taxes on passenger vehicles and heavy trucks to pay for rebuilding the state's highways. Additionally, it voted to refer to voters a $575 million bond issue to speed reconstruction of interstates.