Take the Gas Money and Run

There’s a constitutional amendment making the rounds to make it more difficult for the Delaware state legislature to siphon money from the Transportation Trust Fund. Seems like a no-brainer, but is it?

This constitutional amendment would essentially put the cookie jar on top of the fridge, making it harder for lawmakers to reach during the budget process.

“What it would require is that an issue be voted on as a separate bill and be voted on by three quarters of the General Assembly,” said Ken Grant of AAA Mid-Atlatnic, which supports the amendment.

He said that would make the money accessible in a financial crisis, but protect it from regularly being used to backfill the General Fund.

New Jersey passed a similar protection last October after it depleted its trust fund on non-transportation expenses. That state also raised its gas tax by 23 cents a gallon to help restore the fund.

Grant said this constitutional amendment will help Delaware avoid a similar fate.