Gas Taxes Advance in New Mexico and Wisconsin in May

Efforts to increase transportation funding through hiking user fees continue to make significant process in 2017, but getting to the finish line is extremely challenging. An effort in Louisiana to hike gas taxes 17 cents per gallon, posted May 25, faces the "California challenge" of meeting a two-thirds supermajority legislative threshold, but has the support of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. Backers delayed a vote until next week, reports the Associated Press.

In New Mexico, Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Representative Jim R. Trujillo - (D) and Senator Clemente Sanchez - (D) hikes gas and diesel taxes by five cents per gallon and add a $55 registration fee on interstate freight trucks. It passed the Democratic-controlled legislature on May 25, but Republican Gov. Susana Martinez vows to veto any tax hikes, reports the Associated Press.

Chances of a legislative override, as was done on May 10 by South Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature over Republican Gov. Henry McMaster's veto of the 12-cents per gallon gas tax hike, or by Nebraska's Republican-controlled unicameral legislature over Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts in May 2015 of the 6-cents per gallon gas tax increase, would appear to be extremely unlikely.

"The bill passed 37-28 along mostly partisan lines, with conservative state Rep. Candie Sweetser, D-Deming, joining all Republicans present in voting no," according to the NM Political Report.

In Wisconsin, a comprehensive tax reform package titled "The Road to a Flat Tax" by Representative Dale Kooyenga includes "applying the 5 percent state sales tax to fuel purchases while cutting the 30.9-cent per-gallon fuel tax by 4.8 cents," report Matthew Defour and Mark Sommerhauser on May 5 for the Wisconsin State Journal

Together, those changes net an increase of about $380 million in revenue for roads, bridges and transit over the next two years, according to an estimate from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

The plan would create an annual fee of $30 for hybrid vehicles and $125 for electric vehicles, yielding about $4.8 million over the next two years, and seek federal approval to begin tolling U.S. interstates in Wisconsin.

The plan also calls for rolling back the state’s minimum markup requirement for fuel sales, which Assembly Republicans predict will cause the overall price of fuel to decline, despite the new sales tax on fuel.

The proposal is backed by more than 40 of the 64 Republican members of the 99 member state Assembly, including Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. The plan is blasted by Assembly Democrats because of what they view as regressive changes to the income tax. So far it has received a mixed reception by the Republican-controlled state Senate.

Gov. Scott Walker's approach

LIke his Republican counterparts in New Mexico, South Carolina, and Nebraska, Gov. Scott Walker opposes any tax hikes.

Walker’s budget calls for closing a nearly $1 billion shortfall in the transportation fund with $500 million in borrowing, delaying some major projects and transferring money from the general fund. He also is increasing funding for county and municipal road aid, though local government officials have said it’s not enough to address their long-term costs.