Free Republic

Part of a fee that motorists pay to a road and bridge fund is being used for transit projects across Colorado, and Senate Republicans don't believe that's right. As a result, the Colorado Senate gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would change that. ... "The intent of this bill is to ensure that the money paid by citizens for the improvement of roads and bridges when they pay their vehicle registration fees is actually used for roads and bridges," Neville said. "The definition of a fee is that it should be utilized for those who are paying the...

<p>Controller Steve Westly said Friday that he does not have the power to triple the annual fee Californians pay to license vehicles, and that the fee shouldn't go up without clarification of the law.</p> <p>That puts Westly, a Democrat, at odds with Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, who said this week that the car tax could return to the pre-1998 level without tweaking the law.</p>

<p>He needs the help of both parties to solve the state's budget crisis.</p> <p>SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gray Davis urged a bitterly divided Legislature to strike a budget compromise after his fellow Democrats on Monday pushed through a bill that would allow the state to immediately boost license fees on cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles.</p>

<p>He says existing law puts state on better legal ground if it's sued over the fees.</p> <p>SACRAMENTO – The state Senate voted Monday to nearly triple the annual cost of registering a car in the state, but hours later, Gov. Gray Davis signaled he might veto that budget-balancing plan as early as today.</p>