INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): Dueling road funding plans should advance to the House and Senate floor on Thursday.
House Republicans have proposed raising gas and cigarette taxes to create a long-term source of road money, while Senate Republicans have been considering Governor Pence’s proposal for a short-term shot of cash without a tax hike.
Committees in both chambers will vote Thursday morning, but the House Ways and Means Committee spent some time discussing the potential political impact of a tax hike, especially in an election year. Todd Vandermyde with the International Union of Operating Engineers reminded House members that for them, every year is either an election year or the year before an election. He says they should “do the responsible thing” and pump money into roads, a step he says would create immediate construction jobs and boost the economy in the long haul.
Albion Representative David Ober (R) says counties should be willing to impose or raise wheel taxes in addition to whatever help the state provides.
Orange County Commissioner Don Brewer, the president of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, says with gas prices low and roads in need of repair, voters are likely to accept a tax increase.
The bill gives counties authority to tax cars, or increase those taxes if they already have them. Legislators in both parties bristled at some local officials’ warning they’d face a voter revolt if they passed those taxes. They say if they’re willing to risk voters’ anger to help local officials, counties should be willing to take the same chance.
