LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is going big with her first budget.
"This isn't easy. This isn't fun. No one likes having to propose this, but this is 40 years of disinvestment in the State of Michigan," she said.
In her first budget, Governor Whimter is calling for a 45 cent increase in the gas tax.
It would come in 15 cent increments every six months starting in October.
"The last two administrations raised the gas tax, promised to fix the roads with it. Didn't happen. Where'd the money go?" said Dave Anderson.
The governor says the higher gas tax would cost us an extra $23 a month.
That's about half the $500 the average driver pays to repair damage caused by pot holes every year.
"The governor being bold and talking about a solution that actually solves the problem is important, and i hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will either support that plan or come up with a different one," said State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr., (D), East Lansing.
"I did not see the governor look at rededicating any existing revenue into roads, and if they are as critical as she describes, then I think we ought to look at rededicating money to go into roads," said State Senator Tom Barrett, (R), Potterville.
In a debate with former Attorney General Bill Schuette last fall, Governor Whitmer denied wanting to increase the gas tax.
Now she says it wasn't her plan at the time.
"This was the smartest, quickest way to remedy the problem in a way that helped us address these other issues that are vexing our state," said Governor Whitmer.
The increase would generate $2.5 billion annually.
"If you have a different plan, I think we'll look at it, but you're going to find like I found. It's a very sobering moment that it's going to cost us to catch up for 40 years of disinvestment," said Chris Kolb, state budget director.
