State Rep. Brad Paquette, of Niles, issued the following statement in response to the governor’s budget presentation:

“The suggestion that Michigan drivers should be forced to pay an additional 45 cents per gallon in gasoline tax is completely absurd. If implemented, our drivers will pay the highest gas taxes in the nation by a long shot. We already pay the highest car insurance rates in the nation, now the governor wants Michigan families to pay the highest gas taxes in the country as well. We should focus on making our state number one in education, not burdening people with more driving costs.

Like all other Michigan drivers, I agree that our roads must be improved, but burdening our drivers with additional fees is simply not the answer. Last year, an additional $600 million was invested in road repairs, without raising taxes or fees, beyond what was previously scheduled. Many communities have already seen improvements, and projects will continue to result from that funding this spring and summer.

I look forward to working with my colleagues and the governor to come up with a more practical solution for road improvement – one that doesn’t fall on the backs of Michigan families. I’m confident that a suitable compromise exists, because we all agree our drivers and taxpayers deserve better roads.”

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