As Michigan Democrats hurtle toward losing their trifecta control of the state’s government, a new proposal would raise the gas tax, and it’s more than double what Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed five years ago.

State Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, introduced House Bill 6258, which would raise the gasoline and diesel fuel tax rate by 19 cents, or about $4 for a 20-gallon tank. Democrats could force the measure through during their lame-duck session. The proposal to increase how much Michigan motorists pay for gas comes as Lansing liberals struggle to pay for road projects.

According to MLive, Michigan drivers pay 69.4 cents per gallon. The tax includes 30 cents for the state gas tax, 18.4 cents for the federal gas tax and 21 cents for the state sales tax.

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However, the state’s gas tax will rise to 31 cents per gallon next year.

Democrats offered two additional proposals.

A second measure, House Bill 6256, would create a tolling authority to designate toll roads and set usage fees. A third proposal, House Bill 6257, would increase annual vehicle registration fees by $100.

Last month, Michigan House Speaker-elect Rep. Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, proposed a $2.7 billion plan to fulfill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s promise to “fix the damn roads,” saying that Michigan’s road funding is hurtling toward a financial cliff in 2026. By pledging current tax dollars and “expiring corporate handouts,” Hall said his plan would invest nearly $3 billion in additional funding annually for infrastructure.

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Whitmer has responded with a measly $2.9 million.

“Everyone says they want to fix the roads when the cameras are on, but nobody has taken any real steps to do it these past two years,” Hall said in a release at the time. “The people are sick and tired of inaction and empty words.”

According to a House Fiscal Agency analysis, the state has historically generated money for transportation programs using gas or vehicle registration taxes, both of which are restricted for transportation purposes under the state’s constitution.

For fiscal 2023-24, estimated motor fuel tax revenue surpassed $1.5 billion. Gasoline taxes contributed more than $1.2 billion, while diesel represented $269.5 million, and alternative fuels totaled $2.3 million.

In recent years, Michigan lawmakers have steadily increased the state’s motor fuel and alternative fuel taxes. From Aug. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2016, the gasoline tax was 19 cents per gallon, while the diesel and alternative fuel taxes were 15 cents per gallon.

Additionally, Michigan is one of a few states that imposes a sales tax on motor fuels in addition to the motor fuel taxes. Motor fuel sales are subject to the state’s 6% general sales tax and have been subject to the sales tax since it was first initiated in Michigan in 1933.

According to AAA, as of Dec. 9, the average price for a gallon of gas in Michigan was $2.933, below the national average of $3.018. Meanwhile, the average price for a gallon of diesel was $3.603 per gallon.

According to The Detroit News, during an October 2018 debate, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette, who ran against Whitmer, said, “Gretchen Whitmer wants to have a 20-cent gas increase.”

Whitmer dismissed the claim as “ridiculous,” telling Schuette it was “nonsense, and you know it.”

Despite her denial during the campaign, in March 2019, according to the Detroit Free Press, Whitmer unsuccessfully proposed increasing the Wolverine State’s gas tax by 45 cents per gallon. According to the Associated Press, Whitmer’s plan would have raised the tax by 15 cents in October 2019, another 15 cents in April 2020 and an additional 15 cents in October 2020.

Per a Detroit Free Press report at the time of the proposal, the governor argued the tax hike would raise more than $2 billion per year to fix the state’s roads.