February 13, 2013
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A souped-up rewrite of Gov. Bob McDonnell's has won Senate passage without debate.
The 26-14 vote sends the drastically amended bill back to the House of Delegates where a two-thirds Republican majority hostile to the Senate's bid to not only restore but increase the gasoline tax the original bill repealed. McDonnell also opposes the 17½ cents-per-gallon gasoline tax.
It also adds a statewide 1 percent wholesale tax and an option for localities to levy an additional 1 percent.
With the House certain to reject the Senate amendment, that sets up high-level private talks by a select committee of senators and delegates with input from McDonnell's administration to see if a compromise between the widely different positions is possible.
Transportation reform is part of McDonnell's quest for a legislative legacy.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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