A road repair bill that Whitmire supports

A bill reported out of the House Ways and Means Committee in Columbia has the support of the state’s District One representative, Walhalla’s Bill Whitmire. Republican Whitmire, however, conceded that a provision for counties to accept the maintenance of some state roads likely won’t please Oconee officials, but he sees the Ways and Means solution to paying for repairing the roads as best for South Carolina. The Ways and Means approved bill calls for the creation of a 6% excise tax on the wholesale price of motor fuels, lowering the state gas tax, and raising the automobile tax with all revenues going to road repairs. According to Whitmire, there’s a companion bill for state income tax relief for all brackets. He expects the bill to reach debate in the full House by the middle of April.