It's a start.
The committee also passed a two-bill package raising the state tax on diesel fuel from 15 cents to 19 cents a gallon, which is the levy on gasoline. The Legislature has tried and failed several times in past years to approve the 4-cent increase.
The tax revenue would go directly to bridge repairs, Gilbert said.
He said the "auditor general's report on deteriorating bridges" prompted the vote on the diesel fuel hike.
Thank you, Senator Gilbert. Now, about the school funding situation... and the scholarship funding situation... and the revenue sharing/public safety funding situation... seems that those areas are "deteriorating" as well, can we expect to see any action there?
Michigan school districts are scheduled to receive reduced payments on December 21 due to budget cuts. Democrats in Lansing say lawmakers need to approve new revenue soon so a handful of schools aren't forced to close.
Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon says the immediate future calls for quick, decisive action to avert cuts to schools that will be almost impossible to restore later.
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But Republicans in the state Senate say the Democratic plan to drain next year's reserve of federal stimulus money to help restore money cut from the School Aid Fund would be irresponsible.
If we could just convince them that kids are just as important as bridges to our economic well-being...