NASHVILLE – In the latest twist in Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s road-funding journey, the governor said Tuesday he may push for a gas tax increase during this legislative session provided he finds enough support from fellow Republicans.
“If there’s enough people who say, ‘That’s what we want to do,'” Haslam said in response to reporters’ questions when asked if he would press for funding this year. “If people say, ‘I’m interested in this, but I don’t want to do anything at all on addressing fuel tax, then we won’t do it.
“But,” Haslam added, “that is going to happen eventually. We cannot keep doing what we’re doing now.”
The governor’s latest comments had any number of opponents, including lawmakers, scratching their heads yet again, with some Republicans reacting angrily in private.
Andrew Ogles, president of Americans for Prosperity’s Tennessee chapter, which opposes any increase, accused the administration of continuing to send “mixed signals.”