MACKINAC ISLAND – Insisting the state must find a way to finance at least $1.2 billion in transportation funding, Governor Rick Snyder said the 15.5 percent fuel tax Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville has called for would net the amount of revenue the state needs to help tackle the transportation issue.

With the Legislature poised to leave on June 12, Snyder said in an interview with Gongwer News Service he would not tell the Legislature it had to stay in session until it passed a transportation funding solution. But, “I would really like for them to get it resolved,” he said.

Snyder refused during the interview to go into campaign mode when asked about possible gubernatorial debates with his Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer.

The House has already passed legislation to increase road funding by $400 million, but Snyder repeated his call that lawmakers need to pass a funding increase and revenue source that would raise “at least $1.2 billion” to put into improving the state’s roads.

Doing so will help the economy, save money over the long term and save lives, Snyder said, as well as address the ongoing problems for motorists dealing with flat tires and bent rims.

Richardville (R-Monroe) has called for the state to shift its transportation tax from one based on cents per gallon to a system that would eventually charge 15.5 percent on the wholesale price of fuels.

Snyder did not specifically endorse Richardville’s proposal, but said it would probably raise the revenue needed to deal with the road issues.

So he would be willing to look at variations on the proposal to raise the funds needed, Mr. Snyder said.

Leading up to the June 12 legislative break day, Snyder also said it was critical for the Legislature to finish action on the Detroit bankruptcy “Grand Bargain” legislation.

The bills, which passed the House with wide support last week, are now before the Senate. The House action also got some opponents to step up efforts to convince lawmakers not to approve the bills. Mr. Snyder was not overly worried about the opposition, saying it was part of the legislative process.

Asked whether he would support legislation that would block the DIA from seeking a renewal of the property tax for its operations, approved by voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties in 2012, Mr. Snyder said instead he hoped the Legislature would pass “at least the core of the package.”

Asked what he viewed as the core package, Mr. Snyder “most of the bills” that included a payment of $194 million into the Grand Bargain and providing for fiscal oversight of Detroit for some years.

On Wednesday, Schauer called for four debates between him and Snyder. On Wednesday, Snyder would not comment on the call.

On Thursday, after reporters pointed out the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac meeting often being the symbolic start of the election campaign, Snyder said he was “busy being governor” and had not thought about the campaign or debates.

There are still plenty of issues in Lansing that he is focused on, Snyder said. Dealing with debates traditionally waits until the general election season and is several months away, he said.

But he did say, “I’m proud of my record; I’m running on my record.”

Snyder also said he had not spent any time thinking about comments made by Lt. Governor Brian Calley last week at the Jackson County Republican Lincoln Day dinner. Introducing former U.S. Rep. Allen West, Calley said the controversial figure would “go through hell with a gasoline tank for his soldiers.”

But then Calley also said, “If only our current commander in chief had the same attitude.” The comment has infuriated Democrats in the state.

Asked if he shared Calley’s views, Snyder said he had not thought on it. Instead, he said the focus had to be on resolving the transportation issue, the Detroit Grand Bargain and the budget.

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