Michigan Legislature Adjourns for Summer without Road Fix Deal

The Michigan Legislature adjourned for their summer recess on Thursday without a deal to fund fixing the state's deteriorating roads. According to WNEM, talks broke down over a proposed gradual increase to the state's gasoline tax. The plan would have allowed the 19-cents-a-gallon tax rise each year by the annual change in highway construction costs.

In a statement, Governor Snyder said he remains committed to working together on a transportation solution. "As I've said for some time, we need a sustainable, long-term approach toward improving our crumbling roads and bridges. Our challenge, moving forward is to arrive - together - on a plan that will serve Michigan long into the future."

Senate Democrats blasted Senate Republicans for failing to pass any legislation to secure "legitimate, long-term funding for improving Michigan roads." Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer said "apparently a supermajority isn't enough to get things done, as we again saw a dearth of leadership that is bordering on incompetence. My Democratic colleagues and I stand ready to work and remain committed to real solutions fixing our troubled roads."

Even had the plan passed the Senate on Thursday, WNEM says it wouldn't have come close to raising the minimum $1.2 billion more a year that Snyder says is needed to repair the roads.