Gas tax hike dead in Virginia

WASHINGTON - Talk of a gas tax increase in Virginia appears to be dead.

House speaker Bill Howell says the election of Bob McDonnell as governor pretty much killed the issue.

"The problem we have right now in Virginia is he gives a broad list of different, alternatives solutions. Bob and I share that just raising the gas tax 20 cents isn't going to get the job done," says Howell, a Republican.

"It's a very regressive tax, and the last tax you want to raise in a recession," Howell says.

Tens of billions are needed to improve the commute in Northern Virginia, according to the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.

But the state has yet to sell $3 billion in bonds approved two years ago for transportation.

Howell says some other bonds needed to be paid off before Virginia could issue the new bonds.

"We're hoping we'll be able to issue $500 million in 2010," he says.

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