NEW BOSTON (WXYZ) — "This is not a federal fund that is sitting around in a pile. The pile is still in our pockets," said Aaron Johnson, who started an online petition in hopes of pushing back against the governor's proposal to increase the gas tax by 45 cents a gallon.
In the next 24 hours, Johnson is hoping to blow past 100,000 signatures on the petition that is titled "No new gas tax in Michigan" on Change.org.
Like many Michigan residents, Johnson said he was upset when he heard the governor's plan to fix the roads involved a tax hike at the pump.
As a low voltage electrician for Nova Communications, Johnson spends a lot of time on the road driving to job sites. Thankfully, he says, he's never blown a tire on a pothole, but he recognizes the need for something to be done to fix the roads.
When Gretchen Whitmer was on the campaign trail to become the governor of Michigan, she pledged to "Fix the damn roads."
As governor, Whitmer stunned many when she announced she was proposing an increase in the gas tax by 45 cents a gallon.
"I wouldn't call it a lie," said Johnson. "I would call it being unprepared for her own truth."
Johnson said he's also concerned how the increase at the pump could affect people coming to visit Michigan for fishing and other activities.
Click on the video to hear more from Johnson.
