Governor Otter Discusses Highways

 A talk with Governor Otter  about Transportation. I’m David Sparks. That story in a minute. Governor Otter recently unveiled his transportation infrastructure plan in the House Transportation Committee.

 The plan includes five proposals totaling more than $174 million that include: raising vehicle registration fees; raising the gas tax; redirecting the 5 percent funding from the Idaho State Police to the general fund; eliminating the tax exemption for ethanol; and taxing rental cars. The Governor talks about his plan and stimulus money.

 (Otter) “I think there’s gonna be 200 million plus available for highways and bridges and I think there’s already a sense, and I’m starting to hear rumors in the legislature, they’re saying we’re getting $200 million for these other things so we don’t need that. I want to remind you David, that $175 million it’s for maintenance. It has nothing to do with expansion, it has nothing to do with new construction. It’s for maintenance only. Stimulus money can only be used for expansion and new construction. It cannot be used for maintenance. So we need another $175 million just to repair the potholes, re-do the fog lines on the highway, the passing lanes and remove the snow. Also to chipseal so our highways will last for decades.”