New state taxes not anticipated

RICHMOND - Three Democrats and the lone Republican eyeing the governor's office next year agree that new taxes won't happen while the economy's in the tank.

Democrats Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran and Republican Bob McDonnell all said new roads, rails and transit are still priorities.

But with the nation's economy now officially in a recession, none would commit to new taxes to pay for billions of dollars in unmet transportation needs.

Before journalists at the Associated Press Day at the Capitol, all four said the first order of business is what to cut, not new taxes.

The only nominally undeclared candidate, McAuliffe, didn't enter the fray officially. But he spoke several times of what he would do his first year in office.