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Lone Star Report Blog

Carona: Raise gas tax, put local tax hikes on House floor

Nov 13

Written by: William Lutz
11/13/2009 5:08 PM

Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) addressed the Texas Taxpayers and Research Institute’s Annual Meeting Nov. 13. Carona called on legislators to have what he characterized as the “courage” to take “hard votes” and find a new funding solution to transportation. Carona said that he supports both a statewide gas tax increase – indexed to inflation -- and a local option solution.

He also called on the House to take a public, up or down vote on the local option plan. He said he had 88 House members’ signatures on a piece of paper supporting local option.

The local option tax plan was attached to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Sunset Bill in the Senate. The House then took a vote on the motion to instruct conferees not to include the local option in the final bill. Carona told reporters afterward that was not an up-or-down vote on the plan.

In response to a question from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Dave Montgomery Gov. Rick Perry told reporters he is opposed to raising the gas tax and predicted such a move would fail. “I’m not real fond of raising taxes when there’s a recession going on,” Perry said. “We ought to be looking at ways to cut taxes, not raise them. The Legislature, I hope, will not limit any more of the options we have for transportation infrastructure.”

Carona had a press availability after the transportation panel. He discussed with reporters the gas tax decision and the future of transportation financing. We post Carona’s remarks to reporters here.

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