House Preliminarily OKs Road Funding Amendment

AUSTIN (AP) -- The House has given preliminary approval to a proposed constitutional amendment letting voters decide whether to provide about $900 million annually in additional funding for road building.

Lawmakers voted 92-32 Monday to put the question to voters in November. The amendment would nullify $900 million annually from state gasoline taxes that currently goes to public education, instead spending it on roads.

The measure still needs to pass the House a final time, and will require a minimum 100 votes then.

Last week, the Senate approved a separate proposed constitutional amendment asking voters to approve the same amount of additional annual funding for roads, but from the state's cash reserves.

Transportation leaders say Texas actually needs about $4 billion more annually for roads. Still, supporters say this is a start.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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