Fuel tax hike bill moves forward in the state legislature

Monday, March 1st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Legislators pushing for a statewide vote to raise fuel taxes to fix Oklahoma's deteriorating roads and bridges are cautiously optimistic that their bills will be passed.

Oklahoma has a 17-cent per gallon gasoline tax and a 14-cent per gallon diesel tax. Proposals pending in the Legislature could raise those taxes as high as 22 cents a gallon.

Money from the fuel tax would pay for upkeep and maintenance on Oklahoma's aging roadways.

Lawmakers are seeing support for the measures in the House and the Senate.

In the past fuel-tax increase bills often passed the Senate and then stalled in the House.

The tide may have changed. Last week the House passed a bill that calls for a statewide vote to raise gasoline taxes 7 cents a gallon and diesel 9 cents.