Transportation Package That Includes Gas Tax Increase Passes Out of Senate Transportation Committee

The transportation investment package has made its way out of the Senate transportation committee and is likely headed before the Senate, if the votes are there, soon. 12th District Senator Brad Hawkins, who serves on the committee, voted against the package because he feels the state isn't ready for additional fees as the state navigates pulling out of the pandemic.

"Plus when you take the potential gas tax increase and you couple it with the potential effects of the increase cost of gas for both the carbon cap and trade bill and also the low carbon fuel bill, we could see upwards of 65 cents of an increase per gallon on gas," said Senator Hawkins.

The package includes a roughly 10 cent gas tax increase and is connected to the carbon cap and trade bill with an extra carbon fee.