Ga. Senate Transportation Plan May Put Pressure On House Speaker
The Georgia Senate unveiled a major transportation plan Tuesday that would help fund the state’s ailing network of roads and bridges. It includes significant differences from a plan already approved by the House.
With just nine days left in this year’s legislative session, there’s sure to be heated debate between House and Senate leaders.
The House plan would raise about a billion dollars annually. A big difference between the Senate version involves the state excise tax on motor fuel. The House wants to raise it by 21 cents per gallon, while the Senate plan is calling for a nickel less. Senate leaders say their approach is more conservative.
House Speaker David Ralston supports the higher gas tax, despite protests from his leadership team. His spokesman Kaleb McMichen says Ralston expected the Senate to respond with a lower rate.
“I think we’re reassured that there’s more we agree about than we disagree about and this is one of those issues where the devil is in the details,” McMichen says. “There’s not a number that’s been chiseled in stone. This has always been an evolving discussion and I think it’ll continue to be.”
If the Senate version passes, Ralston likely would be under considerable pressure to reevaluate the excise tax increase, as well as the overall revenue goal. Many of his rank-and-file agree with Senate leaders that any gas tax hike should be as low as possible.
“It’s definitely welcome to have the excise tax lowered,” said Rep. Micah Gravley, R-Douglasville. “There’s a discrepancy on, ‘do we actually need a billion?’ We’ll have to take a look at the bill. I don’t know.”
The Senate could vote on its plan as soon as Friday. Any differences are expected to be worked out in conference committee.
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