A Senate committee on Friday carved Gov. Larry Hogan's proposal to cancel future increases in the state gas tax down to a shadow of its former self.
The Senate Budget & Taxation Committee stripped out the bill's two main provisions and left one minor concession to the governor that would save drivers money only if inflation increases beyond projected levels.
The panel rejected Hogan's proposal to repeal the section of the 2013 transportation revenue bill that indexes the traditional gas tax to inflation. Instead, the panel voted to reduce the annual cap on increases from 8 percent to 3 percent -- still above current and projected rates of inflation.
The committee also dropped Hogan's proposal to eliminate step increases on the sales tax on gasoline incorporated in the 2013 bill.