Louisiana’s secretary of transportation is urging state officials to call a special session of the Legislature to hike taxes and fees to pay for road improvements.

Kam Movassaghi wants lawmakers to consider raising the state fuel tax, which ranks 38th in the nation, and increasing the commercial truck registration fee, which ranks 45th in the nation.
He said the state is spending about $75 million this year to expand highway capacity, but it needs to spend twice that much.
House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee Chairman Juba Diez would like to see lawmakers consider raising the fuel tax by 4 cents a gallon, but predicts only a 50/50 chance that a special session will be called this fall.