NASHVILLE – Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plan to boost driver’s license fees to avoid cutting 143 Safety Department positions and other budget reductions is in trouble.
With Senate Republicans opposing the measure, the bill, which would raised about $21 million through a $2-a-year increase in fees, stalled in the Senate Transportation Committee after Sen. Ken Yager, R-Harriman, sought to strip the increase out.
“Quite frankly, as I see it, this bill doesn’t have the support to get out of committee as written,” Sen. Yager told sponsor Sen. Eric Stewart, D-Belvidere. “I think the issue should be considered by the Finance Committee.”
Sen. Stewart said that, while he appreciated Sen. Yager’s effort to let the bill move on, “I do think it’s somewhat fiscally irresponsible to sit here and continue to have expenditures in a bill when there’s no mechanism to fund them.”
The bill would increase the number of years a license is valid from five to eight years.