Farmers Encourage Fuel Tax Increase:

Throughout the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA’s) fall District Policy Conferences, one issue surfaced again and again. Soybean farmers across the state are unified in their belief that rural roads and bridges have been neglected long enough. An infusion of funding from the legislature is needed now to make necessary repairs.

“Rural transportation infrastructure is a critical element in agriculture’s future success,” says ISA President-elect Mark Jackson from Rose Hill. “The importance of meeting the world’s demand for food is at Iowa’s doorstep. We’d like legislators to consider raising the fuel tax during this session.”

Legislators have been considering a fuel tax increase for the last two years. While there have been discussions about an increase during the 2012 session, Governor Branstad told delegates at the ISA Policy Conference in December he’d prefer to look at ways for the DOT to find efficiencies and savings in their budget before looking at a tax increase.

Farmers, however, have indicated they are ready to see a fuel tax increase. Several farm groups have joined ISA in making a fuel tax increase one of their legislative priorities for the year.

“It’s been more than a quarter century since we’ve increased the fuel tax,” Jackson says. “With more fuel-efficient vehicles traveling further distances, we have seen an accelerated deterioration of our roads. Years of underfunding, along with inflationary repair costs, have taken a toll. We’ve been told by legislators that rural roads will have a much better chance of getting a fair share of the funding this year than they will next year, after the 2012 elections put more urban legislators in the Statehouse.” 

Leaders from the House and Senate Transportation Committees, Rep. David Tjepkes and Sen. Tom Rielly, both attended the ISA Policy Conference to discuss the merits of moving the fuel tax increase this year rather than waiting. Both also expressed the view that biodiesel should be exempted from the tax increase as the fuel builds its
market share.

ISA members are encouraged to meet with legislators when they’re home over weekends hosting meetings in their districts. Members can also plan to join ISA staff at Wednesday Hill Visit Days during the session and have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with legislators at the Capitol. If interested, call Carol Balvanz at 515-669-9174.