House tables gas tax increase

To offset the $88 million in funding cuts to the state's Department of Transportation, House Finance Committee Chairman Neal Kurk proposed a plan to raise the state's gas tax 7 to 8 cents.

However, House Speaker Shawn Jasper removed the gas tax proposal from the debate on Wednesday, citing procedural reasons.

Officials said that the $88 million in proposed cuts could result in more than 700 layoffs, in addition to bridge closures and devastation to the state's maintenance and plowing. The House Finance Committee voted 15-11 in favor of the cuts.

Kurk said he intends to restore $68 million to the DOT's budget, with the funds to come from money already allocated to other departments.

The House Finance Committee spent Thursday looking for ways to restore the funding to the Department of Transportation.