Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, finds his seat in the House chambers during the 2015 legislative session in Olympia.
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, voted for an increase in the gas tax as part of a $15 billion transportation package because of flood mitigation funds, a roadblock to Gov. Jay Inslee’s low-carbon fuel standards and eight transportation related-reform bills.
His local colleagues in the House say that although they haven’t examined the package yet, they’re not ready to support it. Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, said he hasn’t seen the details of the transportation package, but he’s pleased to see $79 million in money for flood projects included.
“We’ve got to do everything we can do to get the projects to moving forward. I’m happy that it’s in there,” he said.
He also said the reform bills are good and he wants to see those things passed, but he doesn’t plan on voting for the gas tax.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee, said he also hasn’t seen what language goes along with the $79 million for flood mitigation.
“It’s hard to talk about,” he said. “What people request and what gets into budget can be two different things. I can’t really comment.”
He said he’s awaiting more information from Braun about the flood money.
Orcutt said he isn’t satisfied with the reforms that were approved by the Senate. For example, he believes the Washington State Department of Transportation is over-designing projects and should dial it down as a way to save money.
“Before there’s any increase in gas tax there should be a lot of reform,” he said.
Braun said there were several considerations that made him vote for the the Senate’s transportation package — which included an 11.7-cent increase to the state gas tax over the next three years — last Monday.
The revenue bill passed the Senate 27-22 and now moves on to the House for consideration.
The proposal included more than $8 billion for road projects around the state, mass transit projects and would give taxing authority to Sound Transit.
It’s too early in the process to say what local projects would get funded, but Washington Department of Transportation spokesman Lars Erickson said the money would stay within Lewis County as recommended by the Chehalis River Basin Work Group.
While there is legislation moving through the House and the Senate to pay for flood mitigation projects in the Chehalis River Basin, Braun said the $79 million is a key part of working toward that goal.
“We need to keep stepping toward solving this problem. That $79 million will get us further down the path,” he said. “It’s the impact of flood risk reduction to make this the right choice.”
According to The Associated Press, a 5-cent gas tax increase would take effect this summer, a 4.2-cent increase would follow next year, and a final 2.5-cent increase would come the year after that.
The Senate’s proposal is the first of several steps that must be taken before the government passes a transportation package. If Lewis County is to see any flood control money, it must survive scrutiny from the House, again from the Senate and then the governor.
“This isn’t done yet,” said Braun. “If the House does something differently and things change we have to stay after it.”
