Part of a quid pro quo between truckers, Gov. Mike Beebe and state lawmakers is in question thanks to the state trucking association’s request to delay a potential five-cent diesel fuel tax increase.
When House Speaker Robert Moore secured support from the Arkansas Trucking Association for an increase in the diesel fuel tax to help pay for interstate improvements, truckers also negotiated a tax break on truck and trailer registrations.
In the past week, the trucking industry has asked Beebe to delay his call for a special election citing lack of public support for the diesel fuel hike.
Now, politicos are eyeing the fate of the tax break tied to the roads program support.
Kelly MacNeil with our content partner, KUAR-FM 89 News, reports:
The governor’s spokesperson, Grant Tennille, told FM-89 that Beebe always considered the truck tax break to be contingent on the passage of the diesel tax.
"If it doesn’t go forward, [Beebe] has said that he intends to try and repeal the exemption," Tennille said. "It was drafted in such a way that gives us an opportunity to come back in ’13 and do just that."
A spokesperson for the trucking association told FM-89 that now isn’t the time to discuss revoking the tax break.
You can read more on the subject at this link.
