Legislation from House Transportation Chairman Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, was introduced unanimously in the House Transportation Committee this afternoon, to hike gas taxes, car and truck registration fees, and impose other fees and taxes including new charges on electric and hybrid cars that use little gas, to raise a total of nearly $200 million a year by the end of a three-year phase-in. Palmer told the committee the bill is “basically a complete overhaul of our funding system that we currently use to fund our transportation system,” but added a “disclaimer,” saying, “I don’t think any one of us have any illusions that it’s going to be exactly the same as we get when we see it come back with a bill number on it”/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Is it time for Idahoans to begin ponying up more to fund road/bridge improvements?