HEARN: Highway to improvement

I recommend voting for Democrat Tom Hearn for the Idaho Legislature because, among other reasons, of the low level of tax support the Republican-led legislature has given to highway and bridge maintenance. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) gets most of its funding from state gas taxes and vehicle registration fees. The Republican controlled legislature hasn’t changed gas taxes significantly (even after adding 7 cents per gallon last year) since 1996, and hasn’t adjusted registration fees since 1997.

That is, until end of session in 2015 when the legislature decided to fund highway maintenance by punishing me, a Prius owner, and about 11,200 others, for not using enough gas. Instead of focusing on raising revenue by looking at those vehicles causing the heaviest use on our roads and bridges, the GOP-led legislature added $75 to my annual registration fee, never mind the lighter weight of the car or lower toxic emissions. I would willingly pay higher gas taxes or fees to maintain our roads and bridges, but I resent having to pay a special assessment because I drive a fuel-efficient car.

Democrat Tom Hearn recognizes that the road and bridge situation in Idaho is dire, needs to be forcefully addressed, and agrees that this problem can be more fairly funded by considering a general increase in gas taxes and/or fees rather than putting a bigger burden on personal vehicle owners who don’t use enough gas.

RICHARD CRIPE

Coeur d’Alene