Governor Vilsack will introduce a plan tomorrow to provide each registered driver in Iowa a coupon for 10 dollars worth of tax-free gasahol. The Governor will meet with legislators for the second time to talk about ways to provide state relief for high gas prices. He’ll ask legislators to approve the gas coupons at that meeting.Vilsack says the coupon would provide relief and also boost the use of corn-based ethanol.Vilsack, a democrat, says he would shift money from an economic development program to cover the cost of the gas coupons.The gas rebates would be funded by 14-million dollars in excess money in the Revise Iowa’s Sound Economy or RISE economic development program. Vilsack says this proposal meets concerns raised in their fist meeting when they discussed suspending the state fuel tax.Vilsack says this plan is more targeted than an overall gas tax suspension, as it only gives the benefit to Iowa drivers.Ten dollars worth of gas may not seem like a lot, but Vilsack says it’s 53-gallons of untaxed gas that’ll make a difference.State legislative leaders would have to agree to Vilsack’s plan — and then call a special session to approve it — before any Iowan could get a free gas coupon.
