Republicans say transportation bond bill can pass without GOP; warn against bonding for maintenance
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Summary
Republican leaders told reporters the transportation bond bill requires a three-fifths majority (59 House votes) and said Democrats have the votes to pass it without Republican support; they argued bonding for routine maintenance is unwise and listed transportation needs and disagreements over bond policy.
Reporters asked whether the transportation bond bill included in the coming budget would need Republican votes. Representative Drew Stokesberry said bonding for new projects requires a three‑fifths vote in the House (59 members) and that Democrats have the numerical ability to pass the bond bill without GOP support.
Stokesberry cautioned against using bonds for routine maintenance, saying “it’s unwise at this stage, to begin bonding too much for maintenance and preservation,” though he acknowledged bonds can make sense for long‑term construction. He said House Republicans have not been asked for votes but are watching negotiations between House and Senate transportation leads.
The leaders also listed transportation priorities on the calendar, including a highway construction bill and investments in maintenance and preservation that they said followed from multi‑year underinvestment. They tied some CCA‑funding discussions to transportation, saying CCA revenues could be used for transport if not returned to taxpayers.
No formal motion or vote on the bond bill was taken at the availability; leaders characterized the item as imminent in the legislature’s remaining days and said caucus discussions were ongoing.