BY WESLEY P. HESTER

Republicans have pounced on a seemingly doomed plan by Del. Vivian E. Watts, D-Fairfax, to raise the state’s gas tax to help fund transportation projects.

Watts recently introduced House Bill 422, which would increase the gas tax 4 percent over four years for highway maintenance.

Democrats fear that Gob. Bob McDonnell’s budget proposal to use general fund dollars to pay for transportation will take funding away from K-12 education.

The Republican Party of Virginia attacked Watts’ bill Tuesday in a release that took exception with the argument of Senate Democrat Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, that the tax hike would not raise gas prices.

The release points out that while Saslaw is correct in noting that the gas tax in neighboring North Carolina and West Virginia are higher than Virginia’s, so are gas prices in those states.

“Virginia Democrats: Trust us. You won’t even notice when we take more of your money,” the RPV release said.

Watts’ plan is not likely to go anywhere with Republicans now in control of both chambers.