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House to vote on DMV hike

Delaware Public Media

House lawmakers are set to vote Thursday on a bill raising about $24 million by hiking certain DMV fees in order to pay for transportation projects.

The House Revenue and Finance Committee approved the proposal Wednesday after Republicans got assurances from top Democrats that there would be two amendments.

One amendment would exempt mobile homes from any new increases to document fees and a second would only allow this money to be spent on road projects.

Rep. Mike Ramone (R-Middle Run Valley), a New Castle County Republican, says he will vote for the bill if those two stipulations are in place.

“I am not for tax increases. I still want to feel much more comfortable," said Ramone. 

"There are spending cuts that are dovetailed with this, but I’ve been on the record since the beginning saying this hole is so deep we can’t fix it with just tax increases and we can’t fix it with just spending cuts.”

House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) says a gas tax – either wholesale or consumer – is still on the table as part of the overall $50 million package.

“I don’t know which direction we’re going, but it’s got to be a bipartisan solution to the problem and there’s mixed feelings about it,” Longhurst said.

The bill needs a three-fifths majority to pass in both chambers, with Democrats needing one Republican vote in the Senate.

All members of the House will debate the measure Thursday afternoon.

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