Info on bills to reduce gas taxes

["Gary Schroeder" <gschroed@senate.state.id.us>]

Two bills were introduced in the Senate Transportation Committee recently and both would lower the amount of state fuel taxes paid by Idaho motorists.  One would decrease the amount by 4 cents per gallon, the other by 2 cents per gallon. 

Both bills were introduced by Senator Evan Frasure of Pocatello, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.  There are suspicions that these bills were political statements being made by a Senator criticized for leading the charge to raise the fuel tax by 4 cents per gallon a couple of years ago.  I have not heard Sen. Frasure confirm this, however.  

Northern Idaho legislators generally agree that when Highway 95 and Highway 55 are of the quality of most southern Idaho roads, then we will consider such a move.   Gasoline is currently selling for very reasonable prices in most areas of the state so there appears to be no pressure from the public for any reduction in the fuel tax. ( Prices in the mid nineties are common in Boise at this time).  Constituents do  remain concerned about the conditions of the both Highway 95 and Highway 55.  

At the current time, Senator Frasure has said that the bill to reduce the tax by 4 cents is dead and probably the 2 cent reduction as well.  I do not believe he has the votes in his committee to advance either bill.   

The numbers of these bills are SB1167 and SB 1172.  I will continue to oppose both bills. 

Senator Gary J. Schroeder