LANSING – One of the key pieces for legislative leaders to resolve as they negotiate a road funding package appears to have cleared a key marker with several sources telling Gongwer News Service that House Speaker Kevin Cotter supports raising $800 million in new revenue.

There is no agreement, no deal, not even a framework, not yet, for the long-sought roads package.

But six weeks ago, when the House attempted to pass a plan relying on $600 million in new revenue and $600 million shifted from the General Fund to roads, it was plainly clear – from both House Republican sources and sources among others close to the negotiations – that $800 million in new revenue was not under consideration at that point in the House.

In fact, one source close to the negotiations said at the time that Governor Rick Snyder, Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) and the Democratic legislative leadership were willing to work toward a framework of $800 million in new revenue and $300 million shifted from the General Fund, but that Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) was not part of the talks leading to that conclusion.

Now, however, sources, who spoke on condition they not be named given the sensitivity of the negotiations, say Cotter is there on $800 million in new revenue. Exactly how much would come from the General Fund is less clear, but sources said the $400 million figure seems likely because it would mean not putting any additional pressure on the General Fund than it will devote to roads in the 2015-16 fiscal year that starts Thursday and it would meet the $1.2 billion figure long cited as the target for new road funding. The 2015-16 fiscal year budget contains $400 million from the General Fund for roads.

Cotter, asked Wednesday whether he has embraced an 800/400 dynamic, did not directly answer.

“There are a lot of variables, so we haven’t settled on a framework just yet, but are working through all of the individual pieces of it,” Cotter said in an interview. “We had a very good meeting today, and I think we are getting very close. Each meeting has been productive, but I think now we are down to a period of maybe a couple of weeks and we could have something.”

The frequency of the meetings has picked up. Snyder and the Legislative Quadrant met twice Tuesday and again Wednesday.

If the leadership and Snyder can in fact check off the box on how much new revenue to raise, it leaves two major unfinished components.

One: what other bills and issues would be part of an overall deal? Two: once the complementary pieces come together, can Cotter and House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) persuade enough members of their caucuses to vote yes to reach the 54 votes needed for passage?

Those following the issue say Cotter will likely want something in the vicinity of half his caucus, which has 61 members, before proceeding. And that would mean needing about half the Democratic caucus to get to 54.

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