Move to prop up gas tax nears OK

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - A change in North Carolina's gasoline tax that would prevent it from falling next month is just one vote away from Gov. Bev Perdue's desk.

The House gave initial approval yesterday to replace the gasoline tax cap of 29.9 cents a gallon with a minimum rate of the same amount for the next two years.

Without the change, the gas tax would fall by 2 cents starting July 1. The tax is recalculated twice a year based on wholesale prices.