Bill For Highway Vote Clears First Hurdle

Sat., March 18, 1995

David Ammons Associated Press

House Republicans’ $3.3 billion state transportation budget, complete with a $176 million tax increase for the voters to decide this fall, easily cleared its first hurdle Friday.

The measure drew unanimous support of House Transportation Committee Republicans, many elected on a conservative, tax-cut platform, and a Democrat whose Everett constituents helped defeat this week’s $6.7 billion regional transit plan.

Next stop: the full House. A vote is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday. If the Senate goes along, the entire budget, a tax package and a fallback budget of $3 billion would go on the November ballot.

The tax plan includes a 4-cent increase in the current 23-cent-agallon gasoline tax and a $3 annual increase in license tabs. It would finance a variety of state and local highway projects, additional state troopers and extra car pool lanes.

The tax bite would be about $2 a month for the average motorist.

It’s the first time voters have been asked to vote on a statewide highway tax bill. Although exempted from Initiative 601, which requires a vote on most new taxes, committee Chairwoman Karen Schmidt, R-Bainbridge Island, and other panel members said the vote would be in keeping with the spirit of 601.

“I’m comfortable with this plan,” said Rep. Jim Buck, R-Port Angeles. “We first cut as much as we could, then we’re going to the voters with a modest tax plan. People have said they want to be part of government and I think they will look this over and make a good decision.”

Rep. Pat Scott, D-Everett, the lone Democrat to vote yes, said the proposal better addresses regional transportation needs than did the regional rail and bus plan voters rejected this week, she said.Most of the other committee Democrats were vehemently against the bill and predicted the tax plan will be a nonstarter with the voters.

Reps. Ruth Fisher of Tacoma, Frank Chopp of Seattle, Brian Hatfield of Raymond, Lisa Brown of Spokane and other Democrats said the tax package doesn’t provide tangible results for their areas and that voters will be skeptical.