Michigan House studying Senate-approved gas tax increase

LANSING — The Michigan House of Representatives has more than two weeks to study the gas tax increase approved by the state Senate on Thursday. The House doesn’t meet again until December 2nd.

The Senate bill would tax fuel a certain percentage of its wholesale price. Based on current prices, the tax would rise to 25 cents per gallon in April and 41 cents by 2018. The current gas tax is a flat rate of 19 cents. The additional money would be earmarked for roads.

Senator Tom Casperson of Escanaba voted ‘yes’ on the bill.