The state Senate introduced an initial bi-partisan transportation package yesterday. Our state needs a transportation package to fund key projects and relief increasingly heavy traffic congestion, which cannot happen without a joint Republican and Democrat effort.
The compromise plan spans 16 years and will cost $15 billion. It includes an 11.7-cent gas tax increase to be implemented over three years. The proposal funds six mega projects in Washington and 58 regional projects. It also pumps nearly $1.5 billion into preservation and maintenance of existing roads and bridges.
Senate Transportation Committee chairman Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima said he understood that members of his own party are not happy with certain aspects of the bill (i.e. the 11.7-cent tax), but that “we can’t wait any longer to address our maintenance and preservation issues and address congestion.” While Democrats would be walking away with what they wanted, Republicans would walk away with big wins as well.
Republicans managed to include needed transportation reforms in the package. One reform would direct the sales tax paid on transportation projects back into transportation, instead of into the state general fund.
Republicans also included a safeguard against the possibility of Jay Inslee imposing a fuel mandate by executive order. The package includes a provision that would pull funding from transit if the state were to adopt a low carbon fuel standard. If the standard were adopted, “all non-bondable revenues — such as fee-based money going toward transit and bike paths — would instead be moved into the main transportation account.”
Inslee wasn’t too happy about the condition attached to the package. He wrote,
“Under the Senate plan, if Washington adopts a low carbon fuel standard to reduce emissions, we lose transit funding. As I’ve been saying, we must make progress on funding transportation and reducing carbon emissions this session.”
Makes sense Inslee wouldn’t like the package, it certainly places a wrench in his fuel mandate plans.
So, are they actually going to bring this transportation bill to a vote? Because it would be the first time in years our Senate did so.
Of course you’re referring the post-“Rodney Tom Occupation” Senate. To you, when Democrats control the Senate (8 of the last 10 years) it’s a veritable Legislative Nirvana. It’s all rainbows and smiley faces, except when those mean Republicans do something. Despite being almost totally locked out of the state’s financial decisions for 3 decades, you’ve determined that “Democrats are bad, Republicans are worse” based on one lame example. Partisan loser.
I would really like a vote on those gas taxes… let’s be IDEOLOGICALLY CONSISTENT here.
P.s. I took a screenshot of this comment :-).
I agree we need transportation and infrastructure funding. But the gas tax… does it have to be gas? Is there nothing else they could tax that wouldn’t hurt people as much? I mean, once prices get back up to almost four dollars a gallon, you’ll be wishing they hadn’t passed a higher tax on gas! Of course, I’m for a state income tax, but only if there’s an amendment put in the state constitution which explicitly outlaws having a sales tax and an income tax at the same time. You know the government; you give them an inch, they take a mile!
It’s never enough when it comes to how much the government wants. Last gas tax was to go for roads and maintenance and yet our roads and bridges are in a deplorable condition. At least there is a safeguard in this to make sure the money goes to transportation. How about a once a year tax based on the miles you drive? You drive more, you pay more. None of it’s good, but Florida has toll roads which cost 25-75 cents to use, not the exhorbant amount WA charges.
Florida also uses good old fashioned toll booths. They aren’t high-tech and groovy enough and they don’t enrich a (campaign contributing) Arizona corporation so none of them here.
Tax & Spend! Tax & Spend! Tax & Spend! 40 years of this social engineered madness from the democratic party has brought this state to its knees! And now what is their answer to correct all the ill effects of their liberal progressive doctrine? Tax & Spend! Yes that should work………….