Michigan’s state legislature is
embroiled in road repair funding battles which could easily spill over into the
capitals of other Midwestern states struggling to find ways to fund road and
bridge projects in this era of increasing gas mileage and the consequent
decrease in motor fuel tax revenues. One outrageous bill in the proposed
package would even take away the state’s earned income tax credit for poor
families and toss that cash into the road and bridge budget.
Other proposals include increasing
the diesel fuel tax to match the rate on gasoline – opposed by truckers – and increasing
the license plate fees on electric and hybrid vehicles by $100 per car to offset
the fact they obviously contribute less, or nothing at all, in motor fuel tax
revenue though they do use the roads and bridges. Everyone acknowledges there’s
a problem, but there is absolutely no agreement on a solution.
