Republican Senators May Approve Gas Tax If Governor Dumps Cap-And-Trade Plan

Gov. Jay Inslee wanted a $0.25 per-gallon gas tax to fund his transportation package. Now the figure being kicked around is $0.115 to fund a $12 billion package.

The Coalition, as they are known in Olympia, are a group of 23 Republicans and two Democrats who are perhaps the most powerful group in the legislature.  They effectively stonewalled the House Democrat tax increases during the legislative special sessions. They are the reason many experts have given the governor less-than-stellar performance ratings.

Now, this same group of leaders are proposing a bit of a compromise. If Inslee officially gives up his controversial cap-and-trade plan, they will agree to the gas tax. Washington state already has one of the highest gas taxes in the U.S. at $.38 cents per gallon.