Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland is pushing for lawmakers to raise the state’s gasoline tax. McFarland plans to file a bill for the upcoming regular session that would raise the state’s current fuel tax by ten cents in the first year and additional two cents every other year for the next ten years. But Governor Edwards does not expect the proposal to pass.
“Quite frankly I don’t believe it would be possible to get a two-thirds vote this year in light of the economy and what has happened because of COVID,” said Edwards on his monthly call in show “Ask the Governor.”
Louisiana motorists currently pay 38-cents in taxes for every gallon of fuel, 20-cents goes to the state. McFarland says if Louisiana wants to get serious about addressing a 14-billion dollar infrastructure backlog, it needs to raise taxes on gasoline. In the past, Edwards has supported a gas tax hike proposal, but raising taxes when the economy is struggling.
“I am not going to be supporting that this year,” said Edwards.
Edwards believes the state’s best hope for additional dollars for road construction is if Congress approved a large infrastructure bill that would provides states with more money for highway projects.
“And if they pass something that we requires more than what we can generate locally, then certainly we will take that up,” said Edwards.
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