Tennessee conservative leaders call for end to gas tax hike

Dozens of Tennessee conservative leaders have called for an end to the gas tax increase.

About 50 grassroots leaders across the state signed a letter that opposes that tax hike. The letter was given to legislators by Americans for Prosperity, an organization that fights for lower taxes and less government regulation.

Among those signatures were representatives from Americans for Prosperity, the Nashville Tea Party, the Tennessee Republican Assembly, America First Tennessee, Tennessee Firearms Association, Red Nation Rising, Tri-Cities Tea Party, Tea Party Nation and the 9-12 Project.

"We do not believe that any tax increase or new taxes are needed while Tennessee has been the beneficiary of billions of dollars in new recurring revenue and surpluses in recent years, including an anticipated nearly two billion dollars in surplus and recurring revenue in the upcoming fiscal year," the letter stated.

"As the Trump administration plans on providing billions of dollars in infrastructure funding, we should wait to see what funds may be forthcoming from our federal tax dollars before allowing the state to dig its hands deeper into the pockets of Tennessee taxpayers,” the letter continued.

There are different versions of the proposed tax hike bill that have been making their way around the Senate and House committees.

The House Transportation Committee was set to hear Governor Bill Haslam’s gas tax bill on March 21.