Gas Companies Face Surcharge In Senate Plan

"Let me tell you, if we do nothing . . . we're about four or five years away from where you're going to need an appointment to get on the Beltway in Northern Virginia," said Sen. Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax).

Delegates have complained that senators have held up a resolution to the stalemate by embedding their transportation tax increases in their $72 billion budget document, which also funds schools and public safety and health.

With the bills passed Thursday, senators said they had responded to the criticism by approving separate legislation on transportation. They challenged delegates to accept the bills or offer alternatives to infuse new cash into traffic-clogged roads if they dislike the Senate's.

"We all love to talk . . . but we only act by passing legislation," said Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach). "Talk's cheap. I would encourage the House of Delegates and the governor to stop talking about transportation and start acting to solve transportation."

Delacey Skinner, Kaine's communications director, called the Senate action "a strong move towards reaching a solution."

"It's about time to reach a conclusion on this," she said. "We're very encouraged by what the Senate did today."

But delegates reiterated calls to first agree on spending in other areas, ensuring that a budget is written before the new fiscal year begins July 1. Then, delegates reasoned, the chambers could return to Richmond to talk about transportation.

"What's important is that we get a budget out so law enforcement, education know there's money there to run their programs," said House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem).

"My guess is [the bills] won't be received well," he said.