INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ House Speaker Brian Bosma says it would be in the “best interest'' of Gov. Mike Pence and Senate Republicans to embrace a long-term roads funding plan that increases taxes on smokers and motorists.
The condition of Indiana's poorly rated roads has emerged as a major issue not only in the Legislature, but in the Republican governor's re-election campaign.
Pence prefers a short-term approach that would borrow money and drain some of the state's reserves to raise $481 million for highway improvements in 2017.
But Bosma told reporters on Thursday that approach leaves lingering questions that could open him up to criticism during the coming election.
He said the House GOP has consistently voted for lower taxes and thought long and hard about raising them to pay for roads.
