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State House Nearing Vote on Road Funding Proposal

Road construction - file photo by WMUK
WMUK

Republican leaders in the state House hope to hold a vote Wednesday on their proposal to boost road funding by about $1 billion a year. 

New money for roads would mostly come from projected revenue increases over the next few years and by shifting existing funds in the state budget.

On Tuesday, Republicans shot down several Democratic amendments on the House floor. One proposed by state Rep. Jon Hoadley (D-Kalamazoo) would have increased fees for heavy trucks.

“This was part of a bipartisan package that passed last year,” said Hoadley. “It is the similar language in raising of those fees. And, ultimately, over a three year period would generate 40 million additional dollars for our roads.”

Democrats oppose a provision in the proposal that would end a tax credit for the working poor. Under an amendment offered by state Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak), Michigan would have adopted a graduated income tax to more than offset the change.

“If we’re going to get rid of the Earned Income Tax Credit – which I believe we should not do – we must take action to make our tax system more equal,”

he said. A House Republican spokesperson says the Democratic proposals did not fit into their plan, but that some could be considered at a later date.

“For right now, all these bills are all kind of together and form one plan that gets us more than a billion dollars. So that’s what we’re looking at right now,”

said Gideon D’Assandro. Gov. Rick Snyder has expressed skepticism about the proposal. He says significantly raising taxes is the only way to guarantee enough money goes to roads.

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