The Republican-led senate has approved a $1.5 billion plan to improve Michigan roads by raising fuel taxes and redirecting money from other places in the budget. Lt. Gov. Brain Calley broke a tie on bills that would raise the gas tax and diesel fuel tax.
Democrats say the proposed yearly diversion of $700 million from the $9.9 billion general fund is too much. The plan also drops the earned income tax credit for lower-income workers. One Democrat– Virgil Smith of Detroit— voted with the Republicans for the road plan. This isn’t the end of it. The house will get this bill, but they are on vacation and not scheduled to come back to Lansing until mid-July.