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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">NEW POLL OVERVIEW:</span></p>
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </span>Michigan could solve its road funding problems by being one of the first states in the nation to move to a system where motorists pay a fee based on the number of miles they drive, according to a University of Michigan report to be released today.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">The Michigan Environmental Council by Sustainable Mobility &amp; Accessibility Research &amp; Transformation (SMART) at U-M, says fuel consumption is declining as traditional vehicles become more efficient and electric vehicles more common. Together, those trends are making road funding models based on fuel taxes obsolete, the report says.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">The report says instead of continuing to raise fuel taxes to pay for transportation infrastructure, a mileage fee could more fairly allocate costs based on the number of miles driven, the time of day, the route taken, and the weight of the vehicle .</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">Several states and public institutions are studying the potential for a mileage fee policy, including Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin and Nevada. There's also a legislative proposal in California.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">Distance-based user charges are already in place for trucks in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">Opponents of the plan worry about the Big Brother aspect of the state keeping tabs on drivers.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">The Michigan Environmental Council, said privacy concerns are &quot;the No. 1 big hurdle,&quot; but one that he thinks can be overcome.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">Heavier vehicles would pay more, and one possible plan would charge more for driving heavily congested roads at peak times and offer a discounted per-mile rate during off-peak times.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">Jeff Cranson, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said the agency isn't advocating for such a system, but &quot;we think it's good to have a discussion about the possibilities as other states ... study the concept.&quot;</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">Michigan is grappling with what experts say is a road and bridge funding shortfall of between $1.2 billion and $2 billion a year.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;">As a leader in transportation technology and innovation, Michigan has an opportunity to lead the nation in transforming the currently outdated transportation funding mechanisms to one that is more fair, sustainable and self-sufficient.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NEW POLL QUESTION:</span><br />
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">Should Michigan go to a&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">Pay per miles driven</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;fee instead of a fuel tax to pay for roads and road repairs?</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">Undecided</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-michigan-go-%E2%80%9Cpay-miles-driven%E2%80%9D-fee-instead-fuel-tax-pay-roads-and-road-repairs">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-michigan-go-%E2%80%9Cpay-miles-driven%E2%80%9D-fee-instead-fuel-tax-pay-roads-and-road-repairs</a></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">(To enter your comments click on&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;after you vote.)</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">The final vote totals for this poll have been changed after&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">DUPLICATE VOTES</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;were removed.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">What amphibian should be named as Michigan&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">Official State Amphibian</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">?</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">The&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">Northern spring peeper</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">- 6%</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">The&nbsp;</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">Blanchard's cricket frog</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;- 0%</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">The&nbsp;</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">Eastern gray tree frog</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;- 37% )</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">This is why we need a part time legislature - 47%&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">Undecided - 10%&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">TWO COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL:</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">COMMENT #1</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">state amphibian</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">Spring peeper. I love the way they keep me awake.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">COMMENT #2</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">This is important!</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: large;">There is absolutely nothing I think is more important than making the Eastern gray tree frog the official state amphibian. Absolutely nothing! Thanks for highlighting this critical issue by running this poll.</span></p>
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