A broad coalition of businesses, labor unions, three dozen chambers of commerce, and associations, including Washington Policy Center, have urged lawmakers that “if a Road Usage Charge (RUC) is enacted, any revenues derived [should] be protected under the 18th Amendment to the Washington State Constitution.” This is similar to a coalition letter submitted last year with over 30 signatures. This year, however, the letter was open to all organizations and businesses, and over 100 groups signed on.
The 18th Amendment protects certain revenue, like the gas tax, for highway spending only. As the letter points out, “The legislature has a long history of sweeping funds for other uses and the constitutional protection is the gold standard in ensuring drivers that those dollars are not at risk.”
The RUC is a per-mile charge being studied by the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) and is intended to replace the gas tax. Therefore, it should replicate the features of a gas tax, including how the money is dedicated and spent. The letter echoes this basic principle.
Signees include the Association of Washington Business (AWB), Washington Trucking Associations, AAA, United Parcel Service (UPS), Food Northwest, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, Spokane International Airport, INRIX, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, WA & Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers, multiple chambers of commerce, and many others.
Washington Policy Center was happy to sign on to the letter as well, as ensuring 18th amendment protection for any potential RUC has been a long-standing recommendation of ours. We have highlighted for over four years the importance of the 18th amendment in making sure that any new road-use tax is a user fee like the state gas tax is. We have also warned of the political opposition lawmakers would face in trying to protect RUC money for roads alone.
AWB's coalition letter submitted to the House and Senate Transportation committees contains significantly more support for the 18th amendment than anything we have seen in opposition.
As the debate around a Road Usage Charge continues, it will ultimately be up to lawmakers to consider and apply the recommendations of the Commission as well as the input they have and will continue to receive from citizens and coalitions like this.