Arkansas bill would tap revenue, levy new tax for state's highways

[TexasTowelie]

LITTLE ROCK—An Arkansas lawmaker on Monday proposed tapping into tax revenue from car sales and imposing a new tax on motor fuels to raise money for the state's highways, a proposal that quickly drew opposition from the state's Republican governor and Democrats.

Republican Rep. Dan Douglas said he hoped the bill he filed would start the conversation on highway funding, which legislative leaders and Gov. Asa Hutchinson have called a priority for this year's session. No funding plan had emerged as lawmakers entered the third week of this year's session.

"Here's the thing: If we don't do something, we're just going to let our highways continue to deteriorate and fall apart and then wait until the bill comes due," Douglas said. "We have to do something."

Douglas' proposal calls for gradually diverting up to $120 million a year in tax revenue from car sales to highways over a four-year period.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2019/jan/29/arkansas-bill-would-tap-revenue-levy-new-tax-states-highways/763214/

[DUar17]

1. Cut prison funds in half would probably be enough.

"Pulling additional money from general revenue is not the answer," the governor said in a statement.

"We are already devoting $50 million a year from state revenue to the highway department. Doing more will only create new problems elsewhere and will negatively impact education, prisons, public safety, and more."