McFadden Reverses Course On Gas Tax Hike

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden is backing away from remarks supporting a raise in the gas tax to pay for highway repairs.

The St. Cloud Times report McFadden told reporters Wednesday at a St. Cloud event he'd support raising fuel taxes to bolster the Highway Trust Fund, so long as other cuts offset the tax increase. After talking with aides, McFadden returned to insist he opposes a gas tax hike, then left. He later told the Times he misspoke in his initial support.

The federal Highway Trust Fund has flirted with insolvency for years. It's funded largely through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, which haven't been raised since 1993.

McFadden is fresh off a GOP primary win to challenge Democratic Sen. Al Franken this fall.