House Speaker Proposes New Road Plan
May 13, 2015
WLNS-TV Lansing
LANSING, MI (WLNS) – Crumbling roads in Michigan are in need of some TLC.
And with Prop 1 failing Michigan lawmakers say voters were clear, road funding in Michigan needs a bit of construction itself.
“I think ultimately what the voters said very clearly was give us just a roads plan,” said Kevin Cotter (R), speaker of the house.
On Wednesday the Michigan house republicans revealed a new plan that would bring in a just $1 billion for road repairs.
“This plan includes the elimination of the income tax credit.”
The plan also includes tax fairness for use of diesel fuel, gasoline or an alternative fuel including electric.
And steering $185 million dollars, already in the budget for economic development, toward road repairs.
And pulling more money from the state’s general fund budget.
Unlike the senate the speaker for the house says they will not be adding a summer session but hopes to get some sort of compromise sorted out in the next six weeks.
“We’re going to need to be serious with each other, talk about actual solutions and make sure we’re raising the proper money which will sustain the growth that we need in the future,” said state senator Curtis Hertel Jr. (D), Lansing.
“We’ll be taking the first action on a road plan but I want to continue to work with our partners in the senate. I think if we all agree that we have to fix the roads.”
The house republican plan is the first road funding plan from the Capitol.
Senate majority floor leader Mike Kowall says they should have a plan of their own in the next couple of weeks.
