NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker says he hopes his home state of Tennessee won't emulate the Washington approach to spending on transportation projects without finding ways to pay for them.
Corker on Wednesday praised Gov. Bill Haslam, a close friend and fellow Republican, for trying to find long-term solutions to Tennessee's transportation needs.
Haslam is on a statewide tour to draw attention to transportation funding needs. And while Haslam has yet to make any specific funding proposals, some GOP leaders in the General Assembly have been quick to rule out a gas tax hike in 2016.
Corker has found little traction so far in his proposal to increase the federal gas tax. He says an alternative is to return authority over road projects and funding to the states.