New attempt to push Democrats road plan unsuccessful

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Published: Tuesday, 02 February 2016 18:32

INDIANAPOLIS – The Democrats’ attempt to amend the Republican House road plan failed to gain traction Monday.

“There is area of common ground,” said Rep. Dan Forestal, D-Indianapolis. “We agree that the sales tax collected on gasoline should be used to fund our infrastructure, which is its continued purpose. And that is exactly what this amendment would do.”

Rep. Dan Forestal, D-Indianapolis, discusses the Democrats plan for road funding. Photo by Nicole Hernandez, TheStatehouseFile.co

The amendment also would have kept the cigarette and gas taxes at the same amount. The current GOP plan raises the both the cigarette and gas taxes. The Democrat plan would have relied on the state’s $2 billion surplus to pay for road improvements, instead of taxes.

“This is really messy,” said Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso. “What happens is if the federal government decides we have gone too far in the account for our state, then they withdraw federal funds and it is in all of our opinions, not worth the risk.”

The amendment failed 66-28, but Forestal said the Democrats aren’t ready to give up on their plan.

“We will continue to speak out for our plan through the rest of the 2016 legislative session. We will not support tax increases that we do not need,” said Forestal.

Article writer Nicole Hernandez is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.