Republicans 'Very Close' to Deal on Road Money

"If it's what has been rumored, I won't vote for it and I'll do everything I can to kill it," said Senate Democratic Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax).

Saslaw said he hopes Kaine will not abandon his long-standing opposition to the use of "general fund" money for transportation. That would amount to a politically damaging flip-flop, the veteran senator warned.

"It would certainly be a complete reversal of what he has been saying," Saslaw said.

Lobbyists for local governments said they are worried about how growth and sprawl provisions, said to be in the Republican proposal, would affect their ability to manage development as they see fit.

"We don't know what the land-use provisions are, and it makes us very nervous," said Mike Edwards, a lobbyist for the Virginia Association of Counties.

And some lobbyists for large commercial landowners expressed anger over a provision that would increase the real estate taxes on commercial property to pay for road improvements in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) roamed the halls of the General Assembly's office building Tuesday as he pushed lawmakers from his party toward an agreement. Davis has argued that the Republicans will lose seats in November's election if they don't produce a meaningful transportation deal this year.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R), who helped broker talks among the feuding GOP leaders in the House and Senate, deflected questions as he arrived at the General Assembly office building for what he said were talks about his legislative priorities.

"I think you can talk to the legislators. It's their plan," McDonnell said. "I'm focusing on being a good attorney general."