One Republican officeholder who does question his party’s leadership, at least when it comes to taxes and infrastructure, is Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall.
Hall, as he has for years, was back at it last week. At the Neshoba County Fair, he sensibly argued that the only fair and reliable source of funding for road and bridge work is the fuel tax.
Hall took a shot at Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves’ half-baked plan, offered during the 2018 legislative session, that seemed mostly designed to give Reeves power, if he wins the governor’s race next year, over what roads and bridges get taken care of. Hall gave credit to the House plan, which at least had a fuel-tax increase in it but which the Senate shot down.
Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn are trying to work toward a compromise, but reportedly a fuel-tax hike is off the table.
That’s unfortunate. Raising the fuel tax, something the state hasn’t done in 31 years, passes the cost of repairs onto the right people — those who use the roads and bridges, as Hall says.
He should keep saying it, even if many in his party refuse to listen.
