NASHVILLE - Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to raise Tennessee's gas tax for the first time in more than 27 years is causing a political traffic jam among GOP lawmakers who are competing to offer anything-but-an-increase alternatives.
The state ranks fifth nationwide in terms of years spent with no fuel-levy boost.
Majority House Republicans said there will definitely be several counters to Haslam's proposed Improve Act, which seeks to boost highway funding in a state that has $6 billion in previously approved projects awaiting action and another $4.5 billion in projects on the drawing board, some of which face up to a half-century wait for funding.
Haslam is calling for lawmakers to increase the state's 21.4-cents-per-gallon gax tax by 7 cents to 28.4