SPRINGFIELD - A Southern Illinois lawmaker wants motorists to pay 8 cents more for every gallon of gasoline they buy to help pay for a state road construction program.

State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said Monday he will push the proposal when lawmakers reconvene in January. He said he hopes the idea jump starts talks about a statewide construction program that has languished over the past several years.

"Obviously, this is not the end of the road by any stretch of the imagination," Bradley said. "I'm interested to see what people think."

Lawmakers pushed for a construction plan this year, hoping it would create jobs as the economy languished. They ultimately failed to agree on a way to pay for it. The proposal reached a price tag of as much as $30 billion.

Bradley's plan would allow the state to pay for about $7 billion in road construction, leaving out other projects such as prisons and university buildings.

He proposes adding 8 cents per gallon to the state's gas tax, a 42 percent hike of the current 19-cent state tax. For an average motorist, they'd have to pay 80 cents more for a 10-gallon fill-up.

Bradley's proposal comes at a time when gas prices are much lower than earlier this year when they hovered above $4 per gallon. But the economy in general is weak, and some lawmakers could balk at the idea of raising taxes.

"One of the minor bright sides to the economy right now are the gas prices," said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth.

Earlier this year, as gas prices soared, Republicans in the Illinois House called for the sales tax on gasoline to be suspended over the summer months. So it could be tough to convince lawmakers to raise taxes on gasoline so soon after they tried to lower them.

"What happens if and when prices return to their higher levels?" asked state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville.

Lawmakers won't begin serious talks about a construction plan before next month at the earliest. But Bradley said his plan illustrates that if officials want a massive public works project, they've got to find a way to pay for it.

This year, plans to lease rights to run the Illinois Lottery and sell more casino licenses faltered.

"This is a starting point," Bradley said.

HOWWERATE

Here's how Illinois' gas taxes compare. The figures show cents per gallon including state and federal gas taxes. Sales tax would also be charged in some states, including Illinois.

-Illinois: 64.4 cents per gallon

-Indiana: 59.4 cents per gallon

-Wisconsin: 51.3 cents per gallon

-Iowa: 40.4 cents per gallon

-Missouri: 36 cents per gallon

Source: API, a petroleum industry group

mike.riopell@lee.net|789-0865