Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen:  No Gas Tax Hike

The state’s road fund is struggling because people have been driving less amid high gas prices and a worsening economy.
   
Bredesen told reporters Tuesday that he’s not looking to hike taxes of any kind, including the state’s current 21.4-cent tax on
each gallon of gas.
   
The governor said in general it’s a terrible time to be asking people to pay more taxes, considering national economic conditions.
   
State Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely says his department is $10 million below budget through the first quarter of
the budget year, mainly because of decreased vehicle miles traveled in the state.