Louisiana State Representative Jack McFarland (R-Jonesboro) 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 John Bel 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.
Louisiana motorists currently pay 38 cents in taxes for every gallon of fuel. Twenty cents goes to the state. McFarland says if Louisiana wants to get serious about addressing a $14 billion 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 is not something the governor is on board with.
“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 requires more than what we can generate locally, then certainly we will take that up,” said Edwards.
