State Senator Challenges Supporters of Tax Hikes to Fix Roads to Public Debate

A state Senator is challenging any lawmaker that supports tax increases to fix the roads to a public debate.

Senator Patrick Colbeck issued his challenge on the chamber floor saying it’s time to bring closed door discussions on raising taxes out into the light.

Colbeck says using existing revenue is more than enough to fix the roads if they focus on building better roads.

Legislative leaders have been in talks over a plan to raise $1.2 billion for road and bridge maintenance.

Some of that is expected to come from existing revenue, the rest from tax and fee increases.

One of those leaders, state House Speaker Kevin Cotter, was asked whether he would debate Colbeck.

He says he’s going to spend his energy on things that are productive to solving the problem.