Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue vowed Tuesday in Atlanta that he would not push to increase the fuel tax to rescue the state from its financial woes, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Perdue made his comments to business leaders at the annual Eggs and Issues breakfast held by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He told the crowd his administration agenda was to focus on ethics, education and economic development, and increasing the fuel tax would not help the state’s economic growth.

However, the governor said he was open to hearing arguments from supporters who contended a tax increase was necessary to pay for transportation needs.