House Committee Approves Road Funding Package

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan legislative committee has approved a House Republican-sponsored package that would shift hundreds of millions from the state's general fund and make other changes aimed at eventually generating more than $1 billion a year for repairing the state's roads.

The Republican-majority House Roads and Economic Development Committee approved the bills along party lines Wednesday.

Along with many other changes, the 12-bill package would earmark $442 million from the general fund for roads in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.That number would increase to $792 million in the 2019 fiscal year.

The plan also would raise the diesel tax from 15 cents to 19 cents to match the gas tax, then index both to inflation. Registration fees on hybrid and electric vehicles would be raised by $30 to $100.