LANSING—On Tuesday a Republican led senate panel approved a $1.5 billion road funding plan that would raise the state gasoline tax.

 The plan would raise gas and diesel taxes by 15 percent over the next three years. Opponents of the measure say it would lead to future cuts in other areas. According to reports annually $700 million from the state’s general fund would be automatically re-allocated toward road funding. 

A vote on the plan was expected to take place Wednesday. It was proposed by Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive. In May Michigan voters soundly reject a ballot proposal that would have raised the state sales tax 1 percent to fix the state’s crumbling roads.