OLYMPIA, Wash. – Transportation funding is one of the top issues of discussion as the new legislative session gets into full swing.
New 42nd District State Senator Simon Sefzik has introduced a bill that would suspend the state’s portion of the gas tax for all of 2022.
That would shave more than 49-cents off the price of a gallon of gas.
The gas tax funds transportation projects throughout the state, but he would make up for the shortfall by tapping the state’s emergency fund.
That’s not getting much attention from majority Democrats and Senate Transportation Chair Marko Liias says they’re not considering an increase in the gas tax.
“We have significant resources both from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was passed in Congress last fall and signed by the President,” said Liias. “As well as from measures the legislature has already taken like the Climate Commitment Act.”
Senate minority leader John Braun says it is time to look beyond the gas tax as a funding mechanism.
“The gas tax is regressive. It doesn’t have a future. It’s a declining source of revenue,” said Braun. “We need to break our three-decade old addiction to bonding the gas tax.”
He says this session is a great opportunity to reach a bi-partisan agreement on how to replace the gas tax.