Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pledge to “fix the damn roads” was good politics, but the House Transportation Committee Chairman maintains he and his comrades have a better idea.

State Rep. Jack O’Malley a Republican who represents the 101st District, which includes Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee and Mason counties, told an audience of about three dozen citizens in Wayland Wednesday evening about a plan that would raise more money for roads without taking money away from education. And he called Whitmer’s proposal for a 45-cent gas tax hike, “a non-starter.”

O’Malley produced charts that said the gas tax paid at the pump is 18.44 cents federal, 16.56 cents state sales tax and 26.3 cents in the state fuel tax. He proposes to take four cents from the state sales tax on gas this year and six cents next year to be earmarked only for roads.

“Take the sales tax on gas so that tax dollars paid at the pump go to the road repair fund,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, he proposes that Michigan schools get a guaranteed increase in per-pupil funding, a total of $13.7 billion in funding.
The irony in the current roads issue, he said, is that federal and state funding support for roads in Michigan will be an all-time record of about $5 billion.

“We need good policy and we need good legislation,” he commented.

O’Malley said fixing the roads indeed is rocket science and it won’t happen overnight.

“Expect delays and inconvenience for the next 15 to 20 years.”

The freshman legislator said Michigan is more vulnerable to weather-caused potholes because of so much water surrounding the state, particularly Lake Michigan, which causes a “frost-freeze” problem for paved roads.

O’Malley said philosophically he’s in favor of focusing more on aiding local units of government in repairing and paving roads because they know better what the needs are than the Michigan Department of Transportation.

“Have MDOT buy the federal funds and give a percentage to the locals,” he suggested, adding, “Generally speaking, our problems are with local roads.”

The guest speaker, who appeared with local State Rep. Steve Johnson, said having toll roads probably isn’t the best solution, noting tolls in Michigan general are for bridges, such the Mackinac, Blue Water in Port Huron and between Detroit and Windsor.

He acknowledged that Michigan has the highest load limits in the nation, but explained that the state has a substantial logging, steel and auto industry, which adds to the weight of transporting over roads on gravelly and sandy soils.

“I you lower the weight limits, you’ll double the truck traffic,” he said.

Another interesting bit of information he noted was that revenue collected at weigh station inspections, about $24.6 million annually, goes to libraries. And he said it’s not a good idea to fight with librarians about money.

He also acknowledged, “The MDOT needs a kick in the pants, but there are good people there. I believe our (House Transportation) committee has found things (solutions) that were already there and I think we’re in a good spot, but we’ve got to get it done.

“Other states get this done better because they can work seven days a week 365 days a year,” though weather plays a major role.

“We don’t have enough workers (to get road repairs done immediately),” he said, but Mary Ortiz in the audience quipped, “I’ll bet there are a lot of immigrants who’d be willing to work.”

Retired teacher Dave Gless quipped in response, “No they’ll be gone next week,” noting President Donald Trump’s most recent threat to deport them.

O’Malley reiterated that his committee’s plan isn’t just robbing Peter to pay Paul. It will add $850 million to the road repair fund and
“We will be spending more money on schools than we ever have before.”