Senator Corker Proposes Gas Price Tax Hike To Help Highway Fund

CHATTANOOGA,TN, (WDEF)-How much more would you be willing to pay when filling your gas tank if it meant our roads were maintained and improved?

"I don’t see it passing the house or the senate I really don’t believe that at a time they are spending money on wars that a proposal like that would even be brought up"

Steve Ray owner of Midnite Oil Services in Ooltewah says he understands the money has to come from somewhere but taxing those filling their cars to get to work is not the solution.

"1000 dollars for every tanker of fuel that moves in this country would be taxed an extra thousand dollars, that amount of money is almost unspendable except by congress"

However  Corker feels it would pay off in the long run as the federal gas tax has not been increased since 1993.

"The majority of motorists that we spoke to said this proposal is outrageous and this merely shows that politicians are out of touch with the real world"

"I don’t think its fair, we have very good roads we do not need more taxes at all, we need more honesty in our government">[Duration:0:08]

"I been retired for 10 years i have been on a fixed income for ten years, i just filled up my truck it was 95 dollars that would cost me an extra 2.50 on top of that"

TDOT say Tennessee roads are in good shape but they need security of funds to keep them maintained.

John Schroer, TDOT Commissioner,"Best case scenario its something congress will pass and that the president  sign would stabilize funding for many years so that we can do the long term projects that we have to do, right now we just don’t have that"

The proposal is not yet a formal bill.

Corker has received support from republicans and democrats alike including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.