The Latest: Haslam critic likens gas tax plan to theft

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, about his plan to boost transportation funding while also cutting taxes. Haslam's plan would hike gas taxes by 7 cents per gallon. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig) Republican Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, about his plan to boost transportation funding while also cutting taxes. Haslam's plan would hike gas taxes by 7 cents per gallon. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Associated Press January 18, 2017 3 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Latest on Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s transportation proposal (all times local):

1 p.m.

The leader of the Tennessee chapter of Americans for Prosperity is speaking out against Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s transportation funding proposal that includes the state’s first gas tax hike since 1989.

Andrew Ogles, the group’s state director, likened it to “theft” for the governor to propose a tax hike while the state is running budget surpluses topping $1 billion. Ogles says he plans to propose his own plan to spend $2 billion on transportation needs over the next decade without raising any taxes.

Haslam is rejecting calls to tap into the state’s surplus funds to pay for his transportation program, arguing that doing so would dedicate taxes paid only by Tennesseans to roads that also are used by out-of-state cars and trucks.