Tempers are flaring in the Tennessee House over Governor Bill Haslam's proposal to boost transportation funding through the state's first fuel tax hike in decades.
An emotional debate erupted over a bill on the House floor Thursday that would redirect sales taxes collected at a proposed Nashville Major League Soccer stadium to the city's sports authority.
State Representative Jerry Sexton of Bean Station accused his fellow Republicans of hypocrisy for supporting the stadium bill but opposing efforts to dedicate a small portion of sales taxes to the highway fund instead of raising taxes on gasoline and diesel.
Representative Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga chided Sexton for questioning his colleagues' motives and said his gas tax alternative could be enacted if it gains a majority of votes.
