密歇根新闻广播 密歇根为修路增加高额税率

Governor Gretchen Whitmer made fixing the state's roads a cornerstone of her 2018 campaign. Now, she's revealed exactly how she wants to pay for that campaign promise.

On Tuesday, Whitmer presented her first budget proposal. It includes a plan to gradually increase the state's gas and diesel¹ tax at the pump until it's increased by 45 cents per gallon. That would raise the fuel tax at the pump to a total of 71.3 cents per gallon by October of 2020.

Whitmer says Michigan residents are already paying a road tax in the form of flat tires and other car problems caused by the state's pothole-ridden roads.

And this is the worst kind of road tax you can pay, because it doesn't actually fix the roads, she said.

Opponents say increasing the fuel tax by that much will drive people out of the state and is too much for most Michigan residents to pay. Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) is on the state Senate Appropriations² Committee. He says he's going to wait and get more details before deciding if he's on board.

I think certainly it's a starting point. It's the governor's first budget; go big or go home," Schmidt said with a laugh. Certainly a lot bigger than I originally anticipated.

Several times throughout her presentation, Whitmer asked the Republican-majority Legislature to not “kick the can down the road” when tackling the state's problems.

This is about one historic vote. I know how difficult your job is, I had your job," Whitmer said. "I'm not asking something that is easy, I get that.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) told Stateside that he did see some areas in the governor's proposed budget where Democrats³ and Republicans could reach an agreement, but he also noted⁴ there were a few areas "that are not small conflicts."

Shirkey noted that two subsequent administations have reached the same conclusion as Whitmer when it comes to road funding. That conclusion is that the state needs a considerable amount of money - about $1.5 billion more in new annual funding, according to Whitmer's budget to fix the roads.

However, Shirkey believes that those funds can be raised without hitting Michiganders with a 45-cent fuel tax increase at the pump. One of his potential solutions involves addressing high auto⁵ insurance costs.

Now if we prove, and I believe we have an obligation to do so, prove that we can save people money first, then I think the conversation of asking people to spend more money on things as important roads will be a much different conversation, Shirkey explained.

You can hear Shirkey's full interview with Stateside host Cynthia Canty here.

In addition to increasing the fuel tax, Whitmer also wants to offset⁶ the costs for low-income working families by doubling the earned income tax credit, getting rid of the state's pension tax, and investing more money in drinking water protection.

The budget is still in its early stages. The Legislature now has to work out its own plan and find consensus⁷ with the governor.

1 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

2 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

6 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

7 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？