NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee taxpayers help other states maintain their highways, and now there's a plan to try to keep that money here.

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One state lawmaker wants Tennessee to opt out of the Federal Highway Trust Fund if the U.S. Congress will authorize it.

Right now, drivers pay 18.4 cents in taxes on every gallon of gas they buy. That money goes into the federal Highway Trust Fund to pay for highway projects around the country.

Tennessee is what's called a "donor state." For every dollar of gas taxes Tennessee puts into the fund, it only gets 92 cents back for highway projects. The remaining money funds projects in other states.

State Sen. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Knoxville, said he is tired of Tennessee giving money to other states to fund highway projects.

"I think when the public realizes what's going on they are going to demand more from their federal lawmakers than they should," said Burchett.

Burchett is hoping Congress will allow states to opt out of the fund and keep all of the taxes raised. That would bring an estimated $67 million a year more in gas taxes.