Page 34 - ATR 2 2019 digital

ing them, telling them exactly what the price would disincentivize consum- at a level that they contribute but it is
plan was for that $50 million and that ers from investing in that technology. not so high that it’s a disincentive. We
was necessary to get more votes in the Hutchinson said, that fee had always still want people to invest in hybrids
House that wanted a serious contribu- been a part of the plan and was a and electric and fuel savings but I think
tion of general revenue. “recognition that electric and hybrids we’ve got it at a level that it’s not a
“So that’s how negotiations work. needed to make sure they were contrib- disincentive, but it shows that they are
That’s how vote-getting works.” uting to road maintenance and their contributing.”
Most of the testimony at the hear- share of the user fee since they bought The electric and hybrid fee wasn’t
ings centered around the fee for hybrid less gasoline. The question is how much the real heavy lift for most legislators
and electric cars and whether that should that be? And I think we’ve got it though. For a very red state, raising
taxes is usually verboten language.
Many Republicans had run campaigns
on no-new-tax platforms, and it takes
some political courage to vote Yes even
ATA MEMBERS: when you know that money will fill
the potholes, pave the roads that carry
A MONTH OF PREPASS school buses and ambulances, and cre-

ate a safer place for everyone to travel.
“Now, the bigger challenge was
OUR TREAT! you’re still asking the legislators to vote

for a tax increase but there was a sense
of responsibility that we’re sent down
here to address problems, and this is
one. Let’s get it done. So I applaud them
for stepping up to the plate, not backing
off from that.”
In general, legislators felt good
about the decision they made.
Senate Democratic leader Keith
Ingram of West Memphis said in an
interview with the Arkansas Democrat-
Gazette at the end of the legislative
session, “I think everybody is ready to
go home, but we can go home with the
knowledge that we addressed a lot of
major issues in the state, particularly
highways, one that has been sort of
hanging over us for a number of years.
I’m very pleased that we have taken a
step to support our infrastructure,”
Ingram said.
TRY IT TODAY! R-El Dorado, also told the Arkansas
House Speaker Matthew Shepherd,

Democrat-Gazette that his favorite bill of
the session was the highway plan.
prepass.com/AR “I know there’s still that part to be
866-228-1424 determined by the voters, but over the
course of eight years here, every two
years hearing that we have a funding
Offer good for first time PrePass customers for the PrePass weigh station bypass service. challenge and trying to find common
Service contingent upon application approval. Qualified applicants will receive service ground, and really only being able to
transponder and one month of service at no up-front cost. At the end of the trial period, service
will automatically renew at regular PrePass rates. Customers may cancel service at any time. do some short-term fixes, the fact that
we worked real hard with the gover-
nor’s office and the Senate and with

34 Issue 2 2019 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT