As previously reported by KCII, lawmakers in Iowa are looking at increasing the gas tax eight to ten cents a gallon over two years. County Engineer Jacob Thorius has been pushing for an increase in the gas tax, which hasn’t been raised since 1989, in an effort to increase funding for Washington County’s roads and bridges. The subject was brought up again at the third Legislative Briefing on Saturday. He told Senator Greiner and Representative Klein about a bridge in the county that was closed last week, and says his department doesn’t have the funds to fix it. But Greiner and Klein continue to disagree with Thorius. Senator Greiner says during her campaign she said she would not raise taxes and plans to stick to that promise.

Representative Klein questions whether the funds would actually get to Washington County, saying that the record shows the lion’s share of road funding goes to bigger cities. Klein also questioned the support of County Supervisors before County Supervisor Adam Mangold expressed his support. For the full discussion of the gas tax increase. Listen to our In Touch program today.