A new bipartisan group says it has a plan to fix Michigan’s crumbling roads. The Michigan Consensus Policy Project is co-chaired by two former lawmakers – one from each side of the political aisle.
The group’s first proposal is to raise the gas and diesel tax.
Former Republican Senator Ken Sikkema is a co-chair. He says he recognizes that a lot of current lawmakers – especially Republicans – may be against a tax.
“There’s a problem that has to be solved, and if this isn’t the solution…I mean I…I would welcome other alternatives. I would say also, the do nothing approach is not acceptable.”
The plan calls for an increase of seven cents the first year, and then an annual increase of five cents per year for eight years. Once the increase is fully phased in, the group says the plan will raise more than $2 billion per year.