New Campaign Wants to Implement the Highest Gas Tax in the Country

Former Michigan lawmakers are pushing the state’s governor to implement what would be the most expensive gas tax in the U.S. The Michigan Consensus Policy Project, led by a bi-partisan coalition of ex-lawmakers, is calling for the state to enact what would ultimately be a 47-cents-per-gallon tax to fund road and bridge repairs. The proposal would raise Michigan’s gas tax by five cents annually for nine years, including another two-cent tax in the first year.

Bob Emerson — a former Democratic state Senate minority leader and one of the backers of the campaign — said the gas tax is the best approach to funding Michigan roads because it “closely correlates to the amount of driving people do,” according to The Detroit News.

Average families in Michigan would see a considerable cut in the take home pay if the tax is implemented, with middle income, two-vehicle households estimated to pay an extra $400-plus a year under the plan.

“There’s no question there’s a need, and no question about the importance of this,” said Ken Sikkema, a former GOP state Senate Majority Leader, explaining the need to fix Michigan’s roads and cent gas tax increase, which is estimated to generate upwards of $2.7 billion a year in extra revenue for the state’s transportation system. The campaign comes as Whitmer is expected to unveil her first budget presentation in March.

The New Democratic governor, while she hasn’t yet voiced support for the proposal, has expressed strong interest to “fix the damn roads” in Michigan.

This story was originally published in The Daily Caller. Read more here: