LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Rep. Brandt Iden of Oshtemo says the math in the $1.2 billion roads package passed by the House on Wednesday adds up, despite outcry from Democrats.
The legislation will take $600 million from the general fund. It also will require $400 million from increased vehicle registration fees and $200 million from a gas tax increase.
The Republican says his party simply did something that Democrats couldn’t do.
“These guys didn’t want to do anything,” Iden said. “We’ve repeatedly gone across the aisle in a bipartisan fashion and asked the Democrats to put forth a plan. And, as much as they want to beat their drum and say their door is always open, they didn’t want to take a vote.”
Also included in the package is a income tax rollback, which Democrats say will rob money from education and public safety. Iden disagrees, saying that the cuts are dependent upon revenue coming in.
“There won’t be a rollback if the dollars aren’t there,” Iden said.
He said, if approved by the Senate and signed by the Governor, the increases would be phased in and wouldn’t take full effect until 2021.
– Anthony Pollreisz
