I was invited by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to Washington, D.C. to participate in a panel discussion focused on innovation and leadership in state transportation policy on July 16, 2024. It was an honor to be recognized as a leader in state transportation policy.
I was invited due to my work on 2023 Wisconsin Act 121, which created an excise tax of $0.03 per kilowatt hour on electric vehicle (EV) charging done at non-residential charging stations. The money generated from the tax will be put into the state’s Transportation Fund, which pays for road maintenance and construction in Wisconsin.
Maintaining and improving our roads and bridges is very important to me. I have consistently been a strong advocate for Wisconsin’s local, rural roads. However, in order to achieve these priorities, the Transportation Fund must be maintained and funded appropriately. The Wisconsin Transportation Fund is largely user-funded through registration fees and the gas tax. Roads are paid for by the people who use them. As cars become more fuel efficient and more people drive EV’s, the Transportation Fund will be impacted.
My innovative work on an excise tax on EV charging may ease some of the financial strain on the Transportation Fund. The new excise tax creates parity for EV charging with the gas tax. Even though there are not many EV’s in rural Wisconsin, the money generated from the excise tax will be used to improve all of Wisconsin’s roads and bridges.
One specific item I focused on during the panel is the current workforce capacity in the transportation system. That is, are there enough people to do all of the road work? Due to recent increases in state and federal transportation funding, there is a lot of money available for transportation projects. However, inflation and labor shortages may make it challenging to complete projects in a cost effective manner.
Another takeaway is that transportation challenges in the 17th Senate District and rural areas are very different from transportation challenges in urban settings. The other members of my panel were from urban areas. They were focused on using transportation funding for trains, buses, bike paths, and EV charging infrastructure. My focus in the State Senate has, and continues to be, Wisconsin’s local roads and bridges.
Once again, it was an honor to be recognized as a leader in state transportation policy. I am proud of my work to improve Wisconsin’s roads and bridges and to ensure the Transportation Fund remains strong in the future.
As always, if you need assistance with any state-related matters, please call our team at the State Capitol — 608-266-0703 — or email me — Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov. My team is ready, and willing, to help navigate your state government, clear obstacles and receive your input.
— Sen. Howard Marklein represents Wisconsin’s 17th Senate District.
