Nebraska State Senators have given preliminary approval to an infrastructure funding bill that would raise the state gas tax six cents a gallon. The vote was 26 in favor and 10 against. State Farm Bureau Vice President of Government Relations Jay Rempe says his group supports the legislation because of the need for upkeep of the state’s roads and bridges which have been deteriorating.

Rempe says it will be a challenge to get enough votes to be able to override an expected veto of the legislation from Governor Ricketts. He says it takes 25 votes to pass such a measure and the preliminary approval was only 26.

He says Nebraska has not had a gas tax increase since the 1980s and because it’s the only funding mechanism for infrastructure, this increase is badly needed. Plus the six cent increase would be over four years at 1.5 pennies a gallon a year.