GOP preferences often different from Huntsman's
House party's vote for earmarking road cash is an example
Thursday, Utah House Republicans voted unanimously to earmark more than $150 million in sales-tax money for roads — effectively taking that cash off the table for other state programs the governor may want to fund in the future.
There are 56 House Republicans, and it was unclear if all of them were in the caucus room at the time of the voice vote. But if 50 were there, that is two-thirds of the 75-member House, a veto-proof majority.
Earlier this week, Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, introduced a bill with more than 50 co-sponsors that could, under certain circumstances, strip Huntsman of budget-setting authority.
"I want to make it clear that the governor has not agreed" to the new earmarking of sales-tax money for roads, House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, told his caucus before the unanimous vote. Curtis said he discussed the new earmarking with Huntsman this week, and the governor was open to considering it.
Historically, Utah's GOP governors have opposed spending a lot of available cash on roads, preferring to bond for such long-term construction projects.
But "all elected officials should consider longer-term transportation solutions" — as the House GOP plan does — said Mower.
No one argues that Utah has huge transportation needs. The Utah Department of Transportation says more than $16.5 billion is needed in road reconstruction over the next 25 years — like rebuilding I-80 from State Street to Parley's Canyon — and new road building — like widening U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon and constructing the Mountain View Corridor.
For nearly a decade, legislative Republicans have been arguing with Govs. Mike Leavitt, Olene Walker and Huntsman over just how much sales tax should come out of the state's General Fund and go into the separate Transportation Fund.
Considering that they are all Republicans, the political battles have at times been vigorous and vicious — with the governor, Democrats and a few moderate Republicans arguing that pumping money into roads lessens what can be spent on human needs — like Human Services, corrections and other non-education funding.
Curtis said that Senate GOP leaders agree with the House's transportation funding plan.
"The governor has not committed" his support, said Curtis. "I'll have to use my charm on him."
It may take more than that.
You can be the first to comment on this story.