A Missouri Senate committee Wednesday voted to send a bill to raise the state fuel tax to the floor of the Senate for debate. The vote was a bi-partisan 6-0, with Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-St. Louis) voting “present”
Senate Bill 623, sponsored by Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff), wold raise the state gasoline tax from 17.3 cents a gallon to 18.8 cents. The tax on diesel fuel would rise from 17. cents a gallon to 20.8 cents. The new higher taxes would go into effect on October 1, 2016.
While Associated Industries of Missouri and the Missouri Transportation Development Council (MTD) would rather see both fuel taxes rise the same amount, the organizations support many kinds of funding mechanisms that will provide more money for transportation projects under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
“We are pleased Senator Libla heard this bill and advanced it from Committee this early in the legislative session,” said Ray McCarty, president/CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri. “Business owners and people across Missouri need to engage now by calling or emailing their Senators and Representatives. Senator Libla needs those who care about transportation to make their voices heard as soon as possible,” said McCarty.
CLICK HERE, ENTER YOUR ADDRESS, AND FOLLOW THE LINKS TO EMAIL OR CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND LET THEM KNOW YOU SUPPORT ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING!
Senate Bill 623 now moves on to the Senate floor for debate. It faces two votes there before moving on to the House of Representatives. Similar legislation died on the Senate floor last year.
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