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DES MOINES, IOWA -- An increase in Iowa’s fuel tax is still being pursued by some Iowa lawmakers, despite Gov. Terry Branstad’s opposition.

The two heads of the Iowa House and Senate transportation committees have called for an 8 to 10 cent fuel tax increase to pay for $215 million in bridge and road work.

Representative Dave Tjepkes, a Republican from Gowrie, and Senator Tom Rielly, a Democrat from Oskaloosa, both say they are taking the same approach. They say they’ll continue to back a tax increase until legislative leaders tell them to stop.

Governor Branstad repeated his opposition to increasing the tax on Monday. Branstad has called for $50 million in transportation department savings before approval of a fuel tax increase.

Tjepkes and Rielly both say they are skeptical about transportation department cuts offered by agency officials.


The Associated Press contributed to this story.