CHICAGO — The Michigan House is set to adjourn for the summer without voting on a controversial plan to generate new funding for roads.
The Legislature had been expected to pass a new road-funding plan this summer after years of political stalemate.
But the House is now expected to break this week for the next month without voting on a plan.
The Senate in early July passed a plan to raise $1.5 billion in new money, about half coming from a gas tax increase phased in over three years and $700 million from the general fund. Gov. Rick Snyder, who has made new transportation money a top priority for several years, supports the plan.
The House met last week, reportedly discussing the Senate plan in caucuses, but did not drum up enough support for the Senate plan. Representatives are meeting Tuesday but are not expected to take a vote on the plan.
Snyder is pushing for a new gas tax to generate up to $1.2 billion a year, the minimum amount he says is necessary to maintain the state's aging infrastructure. The governor says new road money it is crucial to the state's continued recovery. He has toured the state holding press conferences at the sites of aging bridges and pothole-ridden roads to highlight needs.
Despite Snyder's efforts, the Legislature, led by Snyder's fellow Republicans, rejected various proposals from the governor for years. Voters in May rejected a ballot proposal to raise the state's sales tax to generate revenue. The state's new 2016 budget includes $400 million set aside for transportation infrastructure needs.
