Hutchison says Texas is shortchanged on roads

She wants out of system that is providing subsidy to other states

AUSTIN

“We are a high-growth state that needs a lot of highway miles, and we don’t need to be subsidizing other states,” Hutchison told a meeting of the Texas Association of Counties on Thursday.

The senator continued to dance around the question of her political future, but strongly hinted again that she plans to run for governor in 2010, even though Gov. Rick Perry, a fellow Republican, has said he intends to seek re-election.

Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said Hutchison’s gasoline tax proposal was a “fantasy solution” to Texas’ highway funding shortage because federal lawmakers from other states would never agree to give up revenue from the country’s second-largest gasoline tax generator.

“Even by D.C. standards, it’s pure fantasy, and Texans need real solutions,” Castle said.

Houston Chronicle