Great Lakes Wire

Michigan State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) has been hearing from residents who are opposed to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 45-cent gas tax increase.

“The majority leader has heard from people across the state who are opposed to the governor’s 45-cent gas tax increase," Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Shirkey, told the Great Lakes Wire via email. "Furthermore, there is not support in the senate, nor have Democrats even introduced a bill to raise gas taxes based on the governor’s plan.”

A Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) spokesman said the proposed gas tax to repair Michigan’s roads may be revisited before the end of the year.

Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer | Michigan.gov

“There has been some discussion of revisiting road funding before year’s end, but I have not heard anything tangible," MDOT spokesman Jeff Cranson told the Great Lakes Wire. "The governor remains very committed to her pledge to fix Michigan’s roads.”

Cranson added that comments by MDOT Director Paul Ajegba regarding an 80-cent increase were misconstrued at a town hall meeting earlier this month.

“The director explained that MDOT and some local road agencies have asset-management plans that provide sound data about financial needs for roads while some local agencies do not," Cranson said. "His reference to 80 cents was speculation about what the total need could be if all local agencies quantified their conditions. He did not contradict the governor and agrees that 45 cents, phased in over 18 months as proposed, would restore much of the state trunkline pavement to much better condition within nine years.”

Shirkey's spokeswoman said the majority leader believes Whitmer may be oversimplifying the situation.

“There is definitely a need for more resources when it comes to road funding,” McCann said. “But we have to balance infrastructure needs with what taxpayers can afford. If 45 cents has no support, 80 cents has even less. The majority leader believes we need to first prioritize available dollars to roads, then evaluate our state cash flow to see if we can free up more funds for infrastructure, and then look to new revenue options. He appreciates the simplicity of the governor’s plan, but believes she missed the mark.”

A spokesman for Whitmer declined to comment.