Iowa House Transportation Committee Chair Josh Byrnes of Osage is still trying to get an infrastructure funding measure passed in the waning days of the legislative session.  He’s encouraged that Governor Terry Branstad has said he likes his hybrid bill calling for cutting the state’s fuel tax but adding a 5 percent excise tax on wholesale gasoline.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has a $ 215 million annual backlog in critical repairs for the state’s roads and bridges. Byrnes says once they can get going on the legislation it won’t take long to get it approved.

Byrnes says he intends to work with the Governor’s staff, State Senators and House leaders to get his bill voted on and adopted.