S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers announced this week he will oppose any legislation to raise the gas tax in South Carolina by a Democrat or Republican. Sellers said “We don’t need a gas tax increase. What we need is a serious plan to modernize and streamline our transportation delivery system – and a dedicated source of new revenue to meet prioritized needs, not political favors,”

Sellers said in a statement. “It’s not lack of funding, or taxes that are too low that have caused our roads to fall in disrepair, it’s politicians who have their priorities out of whack. And now, instead of solving the problem they want to place the burden of fixing our roads on individuals who can least afford it along with small businesses.

“We cannot take money from South Carolinians – who already spend a disproportionately high amount of their paychecks on fuel – and throw it into an unsustainable system that isn’t meeting their needs,” Sellers continued. “What we can do is fix the system first – and then fund top priorities.” Sellers is reportedly preparing a funding plan in the coming weeks to address spending priorities across state government.