Gas tax increase earns narrow committee passage, ready for floor debate

DES MOINES - Top state lawmakers indicated Thursday they think a majority of legislators are prepared to vote in favor of a 10-cent increase in Iowa's gas tax.

Republican leaders even made an unusual procedural move Thursday just to keep the proposal alive.

A measure that would raise the state gas tax for the first time since 1989 passed two legislative committees Thursday and could be debated by the full Iowa House and Senate next week.

State lawmakers are considering the proposal as a means to help cover the estimated $215 million annual shortfall for road and bridge repairs and construction.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Terry Branstad have said any increase in the gas tax must have strong support from both parties.

Top lawmakers from both parties said Thursday they think that support is in place in all four caucuses, among Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate.

House Republicans on Thursday altered a committee's membership to ensure it would approve the gas tax proposal. Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston, an opponent of the gas tax, was replaced by Rep. Brian Moore, R-Bellevue, a longtime proponent of the measure.

The committee then approved the proposal by just one vote, 13-12.

'It's pretty apparent to me at this point that while there continues to be members in every caucus who support it and members in every caucus who oppose it, it also appears to me it has moved into a position where it has the support of the majority of each caucus and that the body, that is the House, is ready to have the bill come to the floor and have the debate,” said Iowa House Speaker Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, who joined the committee specifically for Thursday's meeting. 'With that in mind … we're making sure that that's not an issue in the committee (so we're) going to make two changes (Thursday) in the Ways and Means Committee to make sure that (floor debate) can occur. …

'It's my responsibility to make sure that bills that the body wants to debate can get to the floor.”

Paulsen said after the meeting the 13-12 vote count was expected.

Party support in the House committee was mixed: Republicans cast eight votes for and six against, and Democrats cast five votes in favor and six against.

Earlier Thursday, a Senate committee passed the proposal by an 8-6 vote, with one Republican joining seven Democrats in favor.

No lawmakers debated the bill in either of Thursday's committee meetings.

Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said Thursday he will support the proposal. He had not previously pledged his vote either way.

'I've been supportive of the process, and I've been supportive of the fact that we need to find additional resources to get into the road funding to solve those long-term problems, and I'm prepared to cast a vote in favor of it,” Dix said.

Branstad said Monday he would sign the bills as written. Amendments introduced thus far have been minor.

Two advocacy groups that oppose the gas tax increase expressed dismay at Thursday's votes. Iowans for Tax Relief urged Iowans to contact their representatives and urge them to oppose the measure, while Americans for Prosperity decried Thursday's maneuvering in the House.

'Iowa taxpayers should be alarmed at the tactics that Speaker Paulsen was willing to employ today in his effort to increase the gas tax and the burden on every Iowa family,” AFP state director Drew Klein said in an email to the Des Moines Bureau. 'We are not only opposed to the gas tax increase but also the underhanded tactics. This was not only disrespectful to those legislators that were removed but also the constituents who were silenced today.”

States across the country are dealing with road construction funding issues while vehicles become more fuel-efficient and people drive less.

The proposals being considered by state lawmakers would increase the state gas tax by 10 cents a gallon for gasoline and diesel and would take effect on the first day of the month following the month of enactment, which could mean the increase would take effect March 1 if both legislative chambers pass the measure and the GOP governor signs it next week.