Republican Roads Bills Approved By Appropriations Committee

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – The State Senate Appropriations Committee voted today to advance two bills out of committee that would improve funding for roads and bridges.

Senate Bill 1870 by Senator Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, removes the 3% growth trigger on the funding for roads and bridges. This would guarantee $50 million in new funding for roads and bridges each year.

Senate Bill 1396 by Senator Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, will also remove the 3% growth trigger on roads and bridges. In addition, this bill will begin to redirect existing motor vehicle taxes from the general revenue fund to roads and bridges over a 5 year period.

“Funding roads and bridges is a top priority for Senate Republicans and these bills bear witness of that,” Johnson said.

“We acknowledge that this is going to be a tight budget year, and we need to show leadership by making these bills a priority and recognizing this is a public safety issue,” added Bingman.

Improving funding for Oklahoma’s roads and bridges is a top item on Senate Republican’s 2008 Legislative Agenda.