Tax hike bills still alive in the General Assembly

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The road funding bill that includes increases in the gas tax and the cigarette tax is still alive in the General Assembly.

Despite speculation that it would be dead on arrival in the state Senate, a committee took public testimony on the bill Thursday.

No vote was taken, however, and Republican Senate Leader David Long suggested that bill will never pass.

“Our caucus has concerns about a tax increase this year, mostly because we feel like we don’t have a complete grasp of what our revenue needs are, and what those sources ought to be,” said Long. “The tax increase is a high hurdle for us in the Senate right now.”

The road funding bill also includes a small cut in the state income tax and Sen. Long said that it should be considered separately.