Governor Tim Kaine says he was only joshing when he told anti-tax foes of his transportation plan to "stay off the roads."

The governor encountered protesters chanting "No new taxes" at one of his recent town hall style transportation forums recently in Staunton.

On his monthly radio show Thursday on the Virginia News Network, an audio clip of the remark was aired. The anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity accused Kaine of bristling at the protesters.

Kaine said he made the comment with a smile on his face as he was walking into the Staunton meeting and invited the protesters to come inside and take part in the discussion.

Kaine has proposed about $1 billion in new taxes and fees to pay for highway upkeep statewide and to accelerate new road projects in Hampton Roads and northern Virginia.