Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are promising to gut Gov. Tony Evers’ spending budget proposal. But Republicans are leaving the governor’s proposed gas tax increase largely as is.
“I would be open to an increase in the gas tax with a sunset,” state Rep. Mike Rohrkaste, R-Neenah told News Talk 1130 WISN Friday morning. “Meaning that that gas tax could come off in two, three, four, fives years.”
Rohrkaste said a gas tax increase could be a temporary solution to the state’s transportation needs. The emphasis is on “temporary.”
“In the long run, the gas tax is not sustainable with increasing fuel efficiency, hybrid, and electric [cars],” Rohrkaste said. “Over time, our transportation funding source will decline at a faster pace than the needs of our weather and our economy.”
Rohrkaste said Wisconsin’s economic boom is built largely on manufacturing and farming, and both industries put a lot of pressure on roads across the state.