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House democrats are proposing both a gas tax and car tab tax to help fund a proposed $10 billion transportation plan.(WSDOT image)

House Dems push gas, car tab tax to pay $10 billion transportation plan

BY Tim Haeck  on February 20, 2013 @ 2:13 pm (Updated: 2:55 pm - 2/20/13 )

A transportation funding plan from Washington House democrats proposes almost $10 billion in projects statewide, but they're offering some controversial revenue sources to pay for it.

The centerpiece of the funding plan is a 10 cent increase in the gasoline tax that would be phased in. Transportation Committee chair Judy Clibborn thinks motorists can handle that.

"We're going to go 2 cents a year and we're going to raise it up and they will probably not notice it with all the fluctuations [in gas prices]." She says the gas tax is one of the few transportation funding options available.

"We don't have other choices, we don't have vehicle miles traveled, we don't have other choices," she said.

The funding plan would help reduce a backlog of maintenance that's part of an estimated $50 billion in state transportation needs. In addition to $1 billion for both the state and local governments to maintain infrastructure, the package would allocate about $3 billion to help fund new and existing road projects.

"If we continue to fund at the current maintenance and preservation levels, up to 50 percent of our state roads would be in poor or very poor condition in ten years," said Steve Mullen of Washington Roundtable.

Clibborn's plan also calls for $3 billion in new bonds, a new annual car tab fee, pegged at 0.7 percent of the vehicle's value and a $25 fee added to new bicycle sales.

If all the projects included in the package are fully funded, House Democrats estimate the proposal would create 56,000 jobs.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (33)


  • Add A Comment

  • cw1997 wrote...
    Seriously
    February 20, 2013 5:22 pm
    So all this light rail that we are spending billions on has done nothing to reduce the use of the roads, remember most of that occurs within eyesight if you are at the top of the Space Needle. Of course that is the same group of idiots who keep electing these folks. Ok so the road need fixing then STOP spending on other things, I am sure you can think of them if YOU REALLY REALLY tried, oh that's right it's always about getting re-elected and you have to pa off the unions, the ones at the trough etc.....get some STONES.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Country_Dog wrote...
    Didn't we just fix and repave I-405
    February 20, 2013 5:23 pm
    Why are they asking for more money for 405?

    And when they talked about earlier gas tax proposals, the legislature told us we wouldn't get toll roads. Now we have higher gas taxes AND toll roads. They will pass this gas tax increase this year and then next year tell us they have to toll 405 and other roads.

    This from the legislature that wants to search your home whenever it feels like it.

    Had enough yet?

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  • rodneytom wrote...
    Judy's gotta go!
    February 20, 2013 5:34 pm
    Hey voters of District 41 - Dump this idiot! She lives on Mercer Island and wants to tax the rest of you into oblivion! "We don't have other choices, we don't have vehicle miles traveled, we don't have other choices" Hey Judy, how about a little more efficiency out of your projects? Why is Democrats have only one solution for every problem?
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  • e233 wrote...
    Plenty of places to cut
    February 20, 2013 5:47 pm
    There are plenty of places to make up for this tax: start with a tax on democrats, cut back the government that Gregoire introduced, outlaw unions and eliminate taxes on businesses.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    Yeah
    February 20, 2013 5:57 pm
    Once they jack up all the taxes and fees, people's incomes will drop. More people on welfare. Then the libs will whine that we need to jack up the minimum wage again. Then prices go up, employment goes down. The tax revenue drops, then they will whine for MORE TAXES and FEES. it never ends with these tax and spend dirtbags!
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  • ChartryC wrote...
    Bunch of BS
    February 20, 2013 6:11 pm
    Again WE need more more more. What they need to is budget budget budget. Stop Wasting my time and mt money! All you DimWits do is Say I want more and not give you anything in return. I do agree tax the Bikes. They wanna ride on the streets Tax them just like a car ,period. But No more taxes, if up to voters it will never pass.
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  • MittensRomney wrote...
    We already pay 37.5 tax cents per gallon, its already enough!
    February 20, 2013 6:37 pm
    What are we getting for all of that tax? We are supposed to be getting the same roads fixed that they want to tax us for again. Democrats, yes. but Republicans will be no better. they will simply fire teachers and screw the kids for the money. If a group rises up, and tar and feathers Judy Clibborn for being such an idiot It would not bother me a bit.
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  • MittensRomney wrote...
    I just emailed Judy, and complained. Told her she is in hot water. You can do the same.
    February 20, 2013 6:43 pm
    judy.clibborn@leg.wa.gov
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    "We don't have other choices..."
    February 20, 2013 7:02 pm
    Spoken like a true democrat. Uh...how about not spending the money? Doh! What was I thinking...that would never occur to a democrat as an option. A state full of morons.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • adiru wrote...
    Just increase the tax to $10 a gallon already!
    February 20, 2013 7:28 pm
    This state will be happy and then realize that nobody is buying gas and then expand the opportunity tax to include taxing the air that we breathe. Enough is never enough to these leaches.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Yes Tax gas $3-$4 a gallon
    February 20, 2013 8:38 pm
    Its better the people get something for their tax $$$ then paying obscene amounts to the oil companies and getting nothing.At $8-$9 a gallon price resistance will be felt and the oil producers will be forced to quit raising prices and perhaps LOWER them
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  • maplefish wrote...
    M 101 Typical Liberal
    February 20, 2013 9:37 pm
    Blame the oil companies...you do understand that they employ thousands of people. Pay huge taxes. Pay for thousands retirement incomes? I never hear you Democrats biittchhh about all the other companies that make huge profits? How about that evil Microsoft? or that wicked horrible Boeing? or Apple? Are you aware that Facebook made $BILLIONS in profit last year, paid ZERO tax and got a $400 million tax return? What's obscene is the fact that DEMOCRATS only solution to anything is to just keep raising taxes...don't be such a tool
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