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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 (32)


  • Add A Comment

  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Where can you cut to fund the 10 billion?
    February 20, 2013 10:53 pm
    This is just like "Obamas" Sequester the "Dims" don't want to cut any fat or dead wood , or waste ..they want to raise taxes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Parrots
    February 20, 2013 11:57 pm
    How much more is it going to take before you pull your heads out and vote for real change? Even you fools have got to be felling the pinch of Obamunism.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Silverado wrote...
    Just Say NO!!!
    February 21, 2013 1:30 am
    Just say NO!! They get enough of our tax money now. Why can't we just get politicos that can make do with the funds they have instead of constantly badgering the public non stop for more??? As a taxpayer, I'm sick of it. If they want more tax dollars they need to get the taxed marijuana scheme in place and up & running. Once shown to be....profitable and once EDUCATION has the first shot at the majority of those new funds, then these transportation bandits can submit their wish list and go from there. Till then they need to remember we're broke and can't afford this extravagance of a 20+% tax increase and there's a recession going on.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Ambitious?
    February 21, 2013 1:52 am
    It's high time those One-Percenter cyclists paid there fair share. Let's see some more "ambition" by going after the pedistrians too, and no whiney excuses like "I'm only 5, I dont have a job!" Pay up behotches!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mlettini wrote...
    Bicycle Tax?
    February 21, 2013 2:07 am
    How about a walking or foot tax? Or maybe a tax on breathing air ... we could provide sensors to monitor each activity. This is getting ridiculous - I may have to move out of state. I am a senior on a fixed income - I am getting killed with all these taxes and increases in everything. Think about us seniors before increasing taxes and the cost of just about everything else. We have done our share.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    House dems push ?????
    February 21, 2013 3:54 am
    At some point. The working public is going to push, and its going to be an object. NOT the stupid go broke agenda you Dems want. How about work 5 days a week you worthless losers. How about make some tough choices and really EARN your entilted paychecks. Ohhh just a thought. You sound like babies whinning for your nipple.
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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Same DimoRat BS; different day.
    February 21, 2013 5:31 am
    Tax...spend...tax...spend...tax...spend...tax some more. I sent a scathing w-mail to all my reps, to Ms Clibborn and Gov Rocket Scientis (not). I'm sure they'll just ignore me, well all except one, but I'm tired and I'm not going to just stand back and take it anymore.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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