House Passes ‘Tax-Free’ Highways Plan Bumpy Ride Expected In Senate As Opponents Rally For Delay

Republicans’ “tax-free” plan to finance $2.4 billion worth of highway projects zipped through the state House Wednesday night, but faces a skeptical reception in the Senate.

Capping 90 minutes of intensely partisan debate, the majority of Republicans pushed the measure through on a straight party-line vote, 56-41. But the fast-track handling of the plan will slow to an idle in the Senate, where backers are trying to round up stray votes.

Senate Transportation Chairman Eugene Prince, R-Thornton, one of the holdouts, said he’ll try to force a delay until the new state revenue forecast comes out next month. Tax collections fell $50 million below expected levels in November, and some lawmakers fear the GOP plan relies on soft revenue assumptions.

But House Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee, said he and Senate Majority Leader Dan McDonald, R-Bellevue, fully expect the plan to eventually clear the Senate and head to the November ballot. McDonald said he will schedule a vote as soon as the necessary 25 votes are rounded up.

The bill has become the centerpiece of the GOP agenda for this election-year session. Republicans say their refusal to boost taxes to pay for new highways reflects their theme that government can do more within existing revenues.

The debate was harsh and often sounded like lawmakers were giving their fall campaign speeches a dry run.

Democrats accused the Republicans of putting forward a half-baked plan that relies on 25-year bonds, rather than having the courage to boost the gas tax as a long-term solution. They also said GOP backers are pitting kids and schools against asphalt.

Republicans, in turn, tried to portray Democrats as tax-happy liberals who are out of step with the mood of the electorate.

Both tried to put the other side on the defensive - and it frequently worked.

The Republicans’ sputtered as they tried to rebut the “schools vs. roads” political point. Several read from the state Constitution about it being the state’s “paramount duty” to fully fund education and said the Democrats’ argument was hollow.

Democrats gave the media a GOP staff memo that spelled out all the partisan points the Republican lawmakers should make during debate.

Sample: “Make clear that the Democrats who oppose our plan are doing so because THEY WANT TO RAISE TAXES. Point out that every Democratic attack is nothing more than an attempt to dream up excuses to justify a huge gas tax increase.”

Republicans did press the point about taxes, repeatedly, and at one point tried to box the Democrats into taking a recorded vote on Gov. Gary Locke’s plan for an 11-cent gas-tax increase, even though that proposal is dead in the Legislature.

Democrats didn’t take the bait.

And the Democrats followed “talking points” of their own, blasting Republicans for jeopardizing education, ignoring local road needs and postponing a genuine solution until after the election.

Rep. Ruth Fisher of Tacoma, ranking Democrat on the Transportation Committee, said motorists who are expecting a solution from their Republican Legislature should instead pack a thermos, “get a good book on road rage” and prepare for long, long waits in traffic.

Appropriations Chairman Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor, and Transportation Chairwoman Karen Schmidt, R-Bainbridge Island, called the plan a solid proposal - a first step in addressing transportation needs - and in a way that doesn’t harm schools or other state spending programs.

“This does not affect the budget one iota,” said Huff. “The alternative is that we can do nothing or we can raise taxes by (nearly) 50 percent.”

Locke’s plan would feature a 5-cent increase in the 23-cent-a-gallon gas tax. He also would allow the tax to rise with inflation and population growth, boosting the total increase to about 11 cents within five years.

Architects of the House-Senate GOP plan said their proposal does all that Locke’s does - but without boosting taxes.

Republicans’ plan includes a car-tab tax cut of $40 a year and greater transportation use of car-tab money that currently is being used for local criminal justice needs, schools and other general government programs.