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House Republicans offer
alternative to gas tax-suspension proposal
Disappointed by the lack
of support for a call to suspend the state’s gas tax for three months,
House Republicans have offered an alternative to help provide relief to
Washington’s economy from high fuel prices. House Republican Leader
Rep. Richard DeBolt said his caucus would like the governor and majority
Democrats to consider a three-month tax moratorium on diesel fuel used
for on-road vehicles.
DeBolt said the idea would
offer relief to the economy in several ways, including keeping downward
pressure on the price of goods that are becoming more expensive to move
and relief for agriculture and small business in rural parts of
Washington. It would also give relief to schools feeling the pinch of
high diesel prices used to operate bus fleets for transporting students.
“We’re still trying to find a constructive way to keep our economy
strong and provide short-term relief from these high fuel prices,” said
DeBolt. “We just received word today that our general tax revenues are
higher than projected as a result of our recovering economy. But we run
the risk of slipping back as people lose income to the high price of
goods and the high price of fuel.”
Lawmakers are in Olympia this week for scheduled committee meetings.
DeBolt said his caucus is ready to act on the idea if Democrats and the
Gov. Christine Gregoire agree to work on the proposal.
“I understand from their earlier response that they want to look into
pricing practices of oil companies instead of providing this tax relief.
But why can’t we do both?” said DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “This gives our
economy immediate relief from high fuel prices that can be made up from
our reserve funds without delaying any transportation projects.”
Last week House Republicans proposed a three-month suspension of the
state’s 31-cent gas tax for all motorists, but the plan was rejected by
Gregoire and Democrats who control majorities in both chambers of the
Legislature. The plan to suspend the diesel tax for three months would
save taxpayers approximately $50 million. The Republican plan calls for
funds to be transferred from the nearly $700 million surplus in the
state’s general fund to ensure no funding is lost for road projects.
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For more information, contact:
John Rothlin, Staff
Director - (360) 786-7254
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