Snyder Hits “Road” in Push for Funding Deal

Governor Rick Snyder has been pushing for road fix money for years now, but he hopes this lame-duck legislative session will finally get the job done.  And he's taking his effort "on the road" to survey areas that will need priority consideration.

MLive.com reports that Snyder will be joined on his trek by the director of the Michigan Department of Transportation and begin their efforts with a roundtable discussion in Detroit today.

The Governor and Kirk Steudle will focus during the gathering at Lawrence Tech University on the poor conditions of a stretch of the Lodge Freeway.   The intent of the tour to is to draw attention to the need to find an agreement on a way to raise the needed funding to fix Michigan roads.

Governor Snyder has already estimated that between $1.2 and $1.8 billion will be needed annually for at least a decade.

While all agree a fix is needed after the harsh winter last year that left many roadways with potholes and in near-gravel form, there is significant disagreement on how to raise the money to get the job done.

The Michigan Senate has approved a plan that would replace the existing 19-cent per gallon tax with a formula on the wholesale price that would rise and fall with the cost of fuel.  The article indicates that under the current rate, fuel taxes could increase 40-cents or more by 2018.

The Michigan House is trying to take a more conservative approach, looking at how money is already being allocated and finding a way that wouldn't hike taxes as much.

Either way, though, Snyder is hoping to push lawmakers into make some decision on the issue and says road repair in Michigan is a priority that will have an economic effect on the future of business and investment here.

Lawmakers are due back in session on Tuesday.

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