Topeka ? The Senate gave first-round approval Monday to a measure raising motor fuel taxes and registration fees to help finance the state’s comprehensive transportation program.

Advanced on a 20-7 vote after two hours of debate, the bill was set for final action today, when passage would return it to the House. As originally passed by the House the measure addressed a sales tax in one county, but a Senate committee stripped it of that language and made the measure a vehicle for transportation funding.

Under the bill, motor fuels taxes would rise June 1 to 25 cents per gallon an increase of 4 cents in the gasoline tax and 2 cents in the diesel tax.

In addition, registration fees for cars and light trucks would rise $5 to $30.

Those increases along with other provisions in the bill would generate an estimated $434 million through the next seven fiscal years for the Department of Transportation.

Highway, airport and shortline railroad improvement projects are funded separately from general government services under a 1999 law creating a 10-year, $13.6 billion transportation program.

Many legislators worry that the program won’t have enough money to finance all of the projects the state has promised because lawmakers have diverted money from the plan for general government programs in recent years.

The shortfall in the transportation program could top $1 billion in its remaining seven years. Last week, the House rejected its own plan to raise money for transportation projects.

Senators on Monday rejected three amendments.

One, by Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, would have raised the gasoline tax Aug. 1 rather than June 1 of this year. Huelskamp said legislators should delay the tax increase until after the summer driving season.

Sen. Jim Barone, D-Frontenac, tried to amend the bill to increase heavy truck registration by 17 percent up to $200 for some heavy trucks, instead of the increase of $2 to $10 in the bill.

Also defeated was an amendment offered by Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, to kill planned improvements to Kansas Highway 61, which connects Hutchinson and McPherson.

Senate Republican leaders wanted to take final action on the bill Monday. But they were unable to secure the two-thirds approval need to suspend a rule requiring one day’s delay between first-round approval and a final vote on any bill.

Democrats said they weren’t ready to vote for the bill and didn’t understand they couldn’t wait and vote today.

Majority Leader Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan, was upset because the Legislature was in the sixth day of its wrap-up session.

“This is the sixth day of overtime, and I’m trying deal with this expeditiously,” she said. “I’m tired of this gamesmanship. It’s time to move the process along.”

The bill is Sub for HB 3011.