GAS TAX HIKE

The 2008 Minnesota State Legislature has begun. At the top of the list, in addition to approving a $1-Billion bonding bill, lawmakers will consider bills to increase funding for education, transportation and to raise the minimum wage. Walker Lawmaker Larry Howes said one of the packages Democrats intend to introduce includes a 5 cents per gallon gas tax increase for roads and bridges indexed to inflation, some money to pay debt service for a highway bonding bill, increase license tab fees on all vehicles, and increase a metro-area sales tax for transportation. Howes said the element he's most opposed to is indexing the gas tax increase that would continue to rise. Representative Howes said he could live with a nickel a gallon increase but indexing is where he draws the line. He said if lawmakers have the political courage to raise the gas tax now, they should develop the same courage in five or ten years to become courageous again rather than allow the tax to increase every year. The session is scheduled to end on May 19th.