AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favor of legislation to remedy what many lawmakers consider a long-term funding crisis facing the state’s highways and bridges through an array of fee increases and other revenue raisers.

The bill, which won a 124-14 preliminary vote of approval, authorizes fee hikes for vehicle and trailer registrations, salvage certificates, vanity plates and transfers.

In addition, it would authorize $50 million in Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles, or “GARVEE” bonds, in bonds in anticipation of expected federal transportation funds. It would dedicate sales taxes on car rentals to non-highway projects, principally the Downeaster passenger train.

But the condition of Maine’s highways and bridges was the focus of most of the debate in the House, as lawmakers challenged those opposing the funding bill to stop in the Transportation Committee room and see a chunk of concrete that broke away from a coastal overpass and crashed below.

“This is certainly an issue of public safety,” Rep. Charles Fisher, a Brewer Democrat and Transportation Committee member, told representatives. “It’s our responsibility to take care of these roads and these bridges.”

The bulk of Maine’s Highway Fund revenues comes from fuel taxes motorists pay at the pump. But with more people buying vehicles with improved gas mileage, and many people driving less because of high fuel prices, tax revenues are insufficient to address transportation needs.

Supporters of the legislation say that while the state should rehabilitate more than 150 miles of highways per year, the Transportation Department’s upcoming work plan proposes only 39 miles per year. And while 36 bridges are in need of significant rehabilitation, the state is only doing 14 per year, supporters also say.

Bridges generally can be expected to last for about a human lifetime. But under the present revenue structure, “We’re going to have to expect bridges to last 180 years,” said Rep. Boyd Marley, House chairman of the transportation panel.

“If we don’t pay now, we’ll pay later,” said Marley, D-Portland.

Supporters said the bill has important economic development implications for contractors who depend upon stable transportation revenues to keep their businesses going. It also can save millions of dollars spent by commuters who must replace shock absorbers, tires and other vehicle parts due to poor road conditions, and avoid million of dollars in losses due to accidents related to dangerous conditions, lawmakers argued.

While the bill draws nearly $15 million in expanded fees and transfers through the two-year budget cycle starting in July, supporters said doing nothing will have a much greater cost in the future.

Some lawmakers were not convinced, saying the new fees were merely taxes in disguise.

“A fee is a tax and a tax is a fee,” said Rep. Douglas Thomas, R-Ripley.

Thomas also took issue with other components of the bill he said raise money in a way that “circumvents the constitution.”

The bill included a contentious proposal to transfer more expenses for state police to the state’s General Fund from the Highway Fund. Lawmakers dropped an even more controversial component that would shift a small share of sales taxes for cars and car-related purchases to the Highway Fund.

The bill was debated a day after Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a $1.2 billion budget to cover the costs of maintaining Maine’s roads, bridges, ferries, railroads and airports for the two years starting July 1.

AP-ES-06-20-07 1603EDT