OLYMPIA…Senator Don Benton, R-Vancouver, announced today that he will oppose the 15-cent gas tax increase and the near doubling of the motor vehicle tax proposed by Democrats today.  

Saying that 15 cents “is outrageous when gas is already over two dollars a gallon,” Benton vowed opposition to the proposal. 

Benton, who has been the Republican lead on transportation issues in the past and is the former Republican Party Chairman said, “It is ridiculous to give WSDOT a blank check like this without first following through with the suggestions of Gov. Locke’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation.  

“We should improve the way we do business and make building roads more efficient and effective,” Benton said. “This means putting in place real performance audits and passing legislation to eliminate environmental mitigation costs that can eat up as much as 30 percent of overall construction cost. Instead, we are sticking with the status quo, by which road construction will still cost $10 million per lane mile.” 

The 16-year plan, which is a 15-cent increase to the gas tax and a three-increment increase to the motor vehicle registration fee based on vehicle weight, amounts to more than $14.5 billion in tax increases. In addition to the $14.5 billion in proposed tax increases, approximately half of which will be spent in the Seattle area, the package may also include the implementation of tolls on certain state highways. 

The plan was revealed to Senate Republicans just one hour before the Democrats announced the plan. 

“I trust the voters to decide if government is using their money wisely, so if they want to increase the gas tax and reverse initiative 695, they should have the opportunity to approve it,” Benton added. “This size of tax and spend package should include a referendum clause to give the taxpayers the ultimate say.

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For more information contact Tami Davis (360) 786-7519, davis.tami@leg.wa.gov