March 10, 2015      4:56 PM
House is set to tap the brakes on Senate transportation plan
Budget writers in the lower chamber have yet to discuss a dedicated funding stream out of motor vehicle sales taxes
The Texas
Senate’s fanfare of the creation of a permanent funding stream for
transportation projects may not be met with equal enthusiasm in the House.
As the
House closes out the budget article that contained the Texas Department of
Transportation, there is no talk yet on creating a dedicated funding
stream out of motor vehicle taxes, an idea that Senate Transportation Chair Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville,
carried in the upper chamber.
The
Senate passed what has been called the “double nickel” on March 4 – that would
be the bill to dedicate a portion of the motor vehicles sales tax, along with a
Senate
Joint Resolution to be sent to the voters. Both carry the number “5.”
"Transportation
infrastructure is a core function of government and its funding should be
addressed," said Nichols at the time of the vote. "By dedicating a
source of funding which is predictable, constitutionally dedicated,
transportation related, independent of fuel source and able to adjust to
inflation, we can continue to construct and maintain Texas' highway
infrastructure."
By Kimberly Reeves
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