Senate Approves Transportation Budget

The Washington Senate approved a bare-bones state transportation budget Wednesday, with angry advocates of a higher gasoline tax berating foes who have apparently beaten back the increase.

“I think talk radio has won,” groused state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell. She taunted foes to, the next time they’re stopped in traffic gridlock, “Get out of your car, pound on the hood and say, ‘No new taxes!”’

The Senate vote on the $3.2 billion transportation budget was 30-19. Most of the opposition was from backers of a two-step, 7-cent increase in the state’s 23-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax.

The revenue package would have allowed a $770 million increase over current levels, including numerous new construction projects, such as freeway car pool lanes for which federal funding has disappeared.

Due to dwindling gas tax revenue and loss of federal funds, the new budget is about $140 million below the current two-year budget. No major new projects will be started, and the emphasis will be on maintaining what the state already has, said Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Eugene Prince, R-Thornton.