Conference committee returns, Vander Woude outlines new proposal…

The conference committee has returned, and Rep. John Vander Woude is outlining a new proposal, which includes an immediate 7-cent gas tax increase and flat $21 increases in registration fees for all classes of cars and light trucks; a flat $25 fee for heavy trucks; leaving electric and hybrid vehicle fees in; raising motorcycle fees by $10 to $19, as in HB 312a; and including a surplus eliminator with no opportunity for local highway districts to get any of the funds, but with a two-year sunset on that proposal so it can be re-examined in two years. A clause to phase in a change in taxing of gaseous fuels, like liquid natural gas that runs buses, is removed. Vander Woude estimated the overall plan would raise "a little over $95 million" for roads.
Before Vander Woude started outlining the proposal, which is now drawing lots of questions, Brackett said, “Sorry to everyone involved, everyone, for the delay. We do have some suggestions.” Before going into them, Brackett said he wanted to quote from the “Code of the West”: “’Do what has to be done. Be tough but be fair. When you make a promise keep it. Remember that some things aren’t for sale and know where to draw the line.’ Having said all of that, hope I haven’t offended anyone. But I would like to take that to heart. We do have another proposal. I will turn it over to Rep. Vander Woude to outline.”