The Critical Role of Down-Ballot Races in State Transportation Funding

The overwhelming majority of states that increased gas taxes last year were Republican-controlled. In states where the legislature is split, it's more difficult to approve transportation funding legislation. Down-ballot races may prove decisive.

4 minute read

October 26, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Louisville Bridge

The Abraham Lincoln Bridge spanning the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky and Jeffersonville, Indiana. | Thomas Kelley / Shutterstock

Partisanship thwarts proposals to increase state transportation funding. Increasing state gas taxes appears to be easier when both the legislature and governor are controlled by the same party. Well, perhaps not easier, but more likely to occur, according to an article in The Hill  last month (posted here).

"Six of those [eight] states [that "passed a fuel tax increase or something similar in 2015"] had a Republican governor and GOP-led legislature when the legislation was approved," reported Melanie Zanona on Sept. 6. Planetizen counted 11 states that approved gas taxes or the like, while the National Conference of State Legislatures counted 10, omitting Alaska, presumably because the .95-cent tax increase wasn't used for transportation improvements.

Daniel C. VockGoverning’s transportation and infrastructure reporter, looks at how partisanship shapes the transportation funding debate in several states, include Minnesota and Indiana, and the decisive role played by "down-ballot races."

Minnesota

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the state agree on the need to find more money for road improvements and other infrastructure upgrades. But the two parties don’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to how to raise the money for those transportation projects.

Democrats favor raising the gas tax by 10 to 16 cents and increasing vehicle registration fees. Republicans prefer to use revenue from the state’s surplus and to repurpose existing state revenues for infrastructure needs.

Not considering the critical role of he governor, Democrat Mark Dayton, which path the legislature pursues would appear to be determined by the outcome of November's election which could determine who controls the legislature.

Democrats are just seven seats short of a majority in the House, while Republicans only need six more Senate seats to control the upper chamber.

California

A similar scenario will play out in the Democratic-controlled legislature on Nov. 8, where tax increases require a two-thirds majority thanks to Proposition 13 (1978). Sen. Jim Beall's 12-cent gas and 22-cent diesel tax bill can't move forward without Republican support.

Assuming all Democrats support raising the gas tax, which is a huge assumption, the Democrats would need to pick-up one seat in each chamber to pass a bill to hike the gas tax without Republican support.

"The state senate currently consists of 26 Democrats and 14 Republicans, and the Assembly consists of 52 Democrats and 28 Republicans," according to Wikipedia. To get to a super-majority, Democrats will need to pick-up one seat in each chamber.

Indiana

Other transportation funding options also may be determined by down-ballot races. In the Hoosier State, "former Democratic House Speaker John Gregg wants to issue $3 billion in bonds to boost transportation and set up a state infrastructure bank for local governments," adds Vock. Gregg is running against Republican Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb and Libertarian Rex Bell to replace governor and Republican vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence.

 “While interest rates are so low, let's utilize some of the existing dollars the state has squirreled away to not only repair roads and bridges, but to make strategic investments that will spur business growth and improve the quality of life in communities statewide,” Gregg told the Northwest Indiana Times on Aug. 8.

"Holcomb says he would build a fourth port on the Ohio River, add a bridge over the river in Evansville and add a second set of tracks to the South Shore Line to Chicago to ease congestion on the route," adds Vock, "but he hasn’t identified yet how he would pay for them."

Indiana's legislature is controlled by Republicans, yet it was unable to pass a 4-cent gas tax increase, though the Assembly did approve it on Feb. 2 only to see it die in March. So much for it being easier for state legislatures controlled by one party to approve gas tax increases.

Related:

Office of Gov. Mark Dayton & Lt. Gov. Tina Smith: BACKGROUND MEMO [on transportation funding]: Republican Governors and Legislatures Across the U.S. Reject The Tax of Doing Nothing04/01/2016.

Since 2013, eighteen states and the District of Columbia have passed gas tax increases to help resolve transportation funding deficits, similar to Minnesota’s transportation crisis. [All 18 are listed].

Also on PlanetizenCalifornia Gas Tax Increase Hits Partisan Impasse, July 10, 2015

Tuesday, October 25, 2016 in Governing

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.