After months, if not years, if not decades of political wrangling lawmakers in the Michigan House and Senate have approved a $1.2 billion road funding plan, sending it to the governor. The House narrowly approved the plan late Tuesday night with almost entirely Republican votes. The Senate approved the bills earlier in the day. The plan includes an increase in the gas tax and a bump in yearly vehicle registration fees of about $20. Governor Rick Snyder says both of those are manageable as they average out to about $60 per driver, per year. The funding plan also includes a hike in the diesel tax, pulling money from the General Fund and increasing the Homestead Property Tax Credit. House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel fears taking money out of the General Fund will create a big budget deficit down the road, after most lawmakers that approved the spending plan are long gone from Lansing. Snyder is expected to sign the package although he hasn’t said when.
