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Rep. Wakeman: Taxes paid at the gas pump should go toward road repairs
RELEASE|July 18, 2019

By state Rep. Rodney Wakeman

It’s no secret. Fixing our roads is a top priority for residents of the 94th House District in Saginaw County.  I am listening, and I know you want better roads. I also know the vast majority of people don’t want to pay the governor’s proposed 45-cent per gallon gas tax hike. It’s asking too much from taxpayers who already give a lot, and there has to be a better solution.

That’s why I recently joined my House colleagues supporting a common-sense plan that once fully phased in will raise $850 million more each year for road improvements – without raising taxes.

I have also listened to residents who say that the plan should require all current state taxes paid at the pump go directly to roads.  Good news — this is the first step in our overall House roads plan.  Making a switch so this money is a fuel tax instead of a general sales tax will make sure roads get a significant cash infusion – and I’m happy to say we can do this without taking away money from schools, local government revenue sharing or other essential public services.

In fact, our House budget plan includes increases for schools and revenue sharing as well as roads.

I support this change because residents in the 94th House District in Saginaw County have made it clear they want state government to do a better job with the money it already collects before even considering asking taxpayers for more money.

Our proposal is a great way to continue our state’s recent track record of increasing commitments to road repairs. Michigan now spends more than ever on fixing roads at well above $4 billion per year.

A roads plan approved by a previous Legislature in 2015 won’t be fully phased in until 2021. Beyond that, the Legislature has directed more and more general fund money toward road repairs after the majority of a decade – from 2003 to 2010 – when there were many years Michigan invested absolutely nothing from its general fund into road repairs.

My colleagues and I in the Legislature also are looking at ways to build better roads through innovate materials, improved design and better planning.

I’m sick of driving around potholes. I know you are tired of it, too. Please know I will continue to fight for a rational and reasonable solution to Michigan’s roads problems without asking you to break the bank.

Michigan House Republicans

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