Indiana House Democrats announced a plan on Feb. 6 to increase transportation funding by $800 million to  $900 million annually by dedicating the annual state agency budget reversions toward state and local funding;  ensuring all motor fuel taxes—including the state sales tax on fuel purchases—are dedicated to state and local roads; opening up the Next Generation Trust Fund to provide local road loans; and freezing corporate and financial institutions’ tax rates. The proposal would also prioritize hiring local workers and using local materials, and focus on maintenance of existing roads. The plan was announced as an alternative to the House Republican road plan released Jan. 4. Read More>>

 

Also in Indiana, Speaker of the House Brian Bosma (R- Indianapolis) announced a content for residents to submit photos of potholes through social media using the hashtag “#IndianaPotholes”. The winning photo will be displayed upon final passage of the House Republican’s transportation funding plan, House Bill 1002. Read More>>

 

South Carolina Speaker of the House Jay Lucas (R- Hartsville) on Feb. 6 warned that the state’s deteriorating transportation infrastructure could make South Carolina less attractive to businesses, especially when compared to the advances neighboring North Carolina and Georgia have made to improve their roads and bridges. Read More>>

 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) on Feb. 8 stated that lawmakers must decide the best way to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure, but any tax increase must be the last resort. Read More>>

 

As the Colorado legislative session progresses, Democratic and Republican lawmakers are at odds over the best way to increase transportation investment. Read More>>

 

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R- District 63) on Feb. 8 stated that fellow Assembly Republicans want to address the state’s transportation funding shortfall during the current legislative session, which may result in continuing work into the summer and fall. Read More>>

 

Oklahoma state Rep. David Brumbaugh (R- Broken Arrow) is pursuing a transportation fund lockbox in this year’s legislative session. Read More>>

 

 

  • Governor Budget Proposals

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s  2017 – 2019 state budget plan requests $500 million in bonds for the state’s highways and local roads and bridges. Read More>>

 

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy’s (D) 2017 – 2019 state budget proposal does not include an increase in transportation-related revenues. Budget director Ben Barnes stated that the governor will not engage in that discussion until a transportation fund lockbox has been approved to protect those funds from diversion to non-transportation purposes. Read More>>

 

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) allocated $4.1 billion in fiscal year 2018 as part of his budget proposal, the largest amount ever allocated to the state’s department of transportation. Read More>>

 

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s (R) fiscal year 2018 budget proposal includes a $214.3 million increase over fiscal year 2017 for state and local roads, as well as a $15 million increase for transit and rail programs. The additional revenue is due to 2015 transportation funding legislation. Read More>>