Kaine May Float Gas-Tax Increase to Offset Shortfall

"The money raised in Northern Virginia should stay in Northern Virginia," Albo said. If Kaine "uses the existing formula, he will lose all Republican support in Northern Virginia."

Griffith said rural legislators will probably try to block any effort to redistribute revenue that goes toward transportation. "You would just cripple the rural areas," he said.

Kaine and lawmakers tried to get around the contentious issue of funding formulas last year, when they agreed to establish regional taxing authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

The plan was designed to raise $600 million a year for the two regions, but the state Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, saying that it improperly gave taxing authority to unelected bodies.

"We can easily fix the regional plans, but as long as [Kaine] is advocating a statewide tax increase, I don't think we will get anything done," said Griffith, who said the gas tax would have to be raised by 15 cents a gallon to generate the necessary revenue.

Saslaw said that statewide transportation needs are rapidly becoming a public safety issue.

"You are going to have to start shutting down bridges . . . so they don't fall into the river," he said.