The House is now debating the gas tax bill, which would raise Idaho's gas tax by two cents a gallon next year. Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, told the House, "This doesn't build highways - this tries to fix highways that we already have. ... We need to maintain our roads." The bill would only raise  $10.6 million for ITD next year, he said, plus $7 million for local highway districts. That's about a dollar a month for the average driver, "pretty piddly," Smith said. But he noted that it also creates a maintenance fund and requires ITD to have a new maintenance management system in place. Plus, the House has defeated all amendments to make the increase bigger. With that, he said, "I would urge your support for this piddly little bill." The debate is continuing.

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