NASHVILLE - A spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Haslam says the administration does not expect to push a tax bill for Tennessee road, bridge and public transportation improvements this legislative session.
"I wouldn't anticipate that happening," said Jennifer Donnals, Haslam's press secretary in an email to the Times Free Press. "The next steps in this conversation are talking with other members about projects in their area."
Jim Henry, Haslam's chief of staff, told House Transportation Committee members that the state has extensive needs and said, "I just want to hopefully impress upon you the urgency of this."
"We can wait, we can kick the can down the road, but I think the time for dealing with it is now," Henry said, according to legislative video of the meeting. "And we'll try to do that in the next coming weeks, and a few weeks try to come back to you for something specific that we've recommended as far how we get there, how much it's going to cost and who's going to pay for it."