SPENCER, Iowa (KTIV) -
The gas tax was a hot topic Saturday as lawmakers and constituents "fueled up" at an eggs and issues breakfast in Spencer.
Earlier this week, a Senate Transportation Subcommittee passed a bill that would increase the tax by 5 cents in January of 2013 and again in 2014.
State officials say that Iowa falls $200 million short for repairs and maintenance.
As the bill moves ahead various lawmakers are looking for ways to raise that money while not dipping into other state funds.
"We're not in a construction mode in this state. We're in a maintenance mode," said State Senator David Johnson (R) District 3.
"if somebody can find 10 years worth of 230 million dollars in out general fund budget and guarantee that we could set that aside and put that into play for the roads, that would be great," said Representative Jeff Smith (R) District 6.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says the bill has a 50-50 shot of making it to law.
He says it will only pass with full support from the Governor and members from both sides of the aisle.
