Don’t punt on gas tax

The Gazette Editorial Board

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Politics has once again prevailed over pavement.

This week, Gov. Terry Branstad said he won't ask state lawmakers to consider a gas tax increase to pay for a mounting list of overdue road and bridge repairs. He announced this decision on a radio show while taking a call-in question from a Tea Party activist who has railed against the prospect of the first fuel tax boost since 1989.

A task force appointed by Branstad recommended an 8-to-10-cent gas tax increase to pay for $215 million in minimum, needed repairs annually that the state can't now afford. But with an election looming, Branstad is punting. That's disappointing.

The future of Iowa's transportation system should be on the table at the Statehouse. Certainly, the economic struggles of Iowans must be considered in any gas tax proposal. But the cost of continued neglect, both in terms of public safety and economics, is too enormous to simply cancel the conversation.

Branstad said he wants transportation officials to find $50 million in savings to plow into roads. That's a laudable goal, but would cover only a fraction of the state's neglected needs. And without a gas tax debate, there will be no exploration of changing the state's road fund formula to help struggling municipalities. We urge the governor to reconsider.

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