Commentary

July 2, 2015 MichiganVotes Weekly Roll Call

Key Senate Road Funding Votes

House Bill 4615, Increase gas and diesel tax: Passed 19 to 19 in the Senate

To increase gasoline and diesel fuel tax rates to 34 cents per gallon by Jan. 1, 2017, up from 19 cents and 15 cents respectively. With sales tax this would give Michigan the nation's second highest gas tax. The bill would also tax “alternative fuels” burned by vehicles at comparable levels. The Lieutenant Governor broke the tie with a "yes" vote.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”


Senate Bill 414, Earmark some income tax revenue to road repairs: Passed 27 to 11

To earmark $350 million from state income tax collections to road repairs next year, and $700 million in subsequent years. The bill also proposes a scheme to potentially roll back future income tax rates if money deposited into the "general fund" - not total state tax collections - grows faster than inflation. Note that the legislature controls the amount of these deposits, so any future rate reductions would essentially be at the discretion of each legislature, as under current law.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”


House Bill 4612, Road funding package - hybrid and electric car surtax: Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate

To impose an annual vehicle registration surtax of $30 on gas-electric hybrid-drive cars, and $100 on pure electric (battery) cars. Other bills in this package would tax "alternative" fuels at rates comparable to gasoline and diesel taxes.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”


SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.