MITA Urges Members to Call Your State Senator
This week the Senate Transportation Committee approved a bill by a vote of 4-1 that would increase the diesel tax four cents per gallon (from 15 cents to 19 cents) to provide additional dollars to transportation. The new diesel tax rate would create “parity” by making it equal to the regular gasoline tax.
While the total revenue created from this legislation ($30-40 million) is but a small amount of what is needed overall to fix our crumbling infrastructure, it is an important first step in approving a larger comprehensive transportation-funding package.
The legislation is now pending on the state Senate floor. MITA needs our members to call their state Senators and urge a floor vote and their support!
MITA has been working on other transportation funding pieces in the House, including a gas tax increase, vehicle registration increases and public-private partnerships (P3s). Several recent hearings have been conducted on the P3 legislation and MITA is working to get support for on a new gas tax and vehicle registration fee increase to be introduced early in 2010.
Without increases, the state will be unable to match federal aid and the MDOT construction program will plummet by 60 percent over the next year.
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WANT TO BE A PAVEMENT POUNDER?
MITA has established an email group of our members who want to go the extra mile and be a key part of our political advocacy efforts by engaging your legislators on a regular basis and reporting back to us. MITA sends out regular action alerts to help you follow the latest legislative happenings. Sign up and become a bona fide Pavement Pounder today.
Email your request to Mike or Keith at the email address below.
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Please feel free to contact Mike Nystrom at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com or Keith Ledbetter at keithledbetter@mi-ita.com or call the MITA office at 517-347-8336 with any questions or comments.
