Congress is scheduled to reauthorize federal surface transportation funding this year, but faithful Antiplanner ally Ron Utt of the Heritage Foundation recommends that it postpone reauthorization for two years. In the meantime, Utt would suspend all earmarks and grant programs (such as New Starts) and just give that portion of the money to the states and let them spend it on transportation as they see fit. In the parlance of transportation funding, such funds would be “flexible,” meaning they could go for either highways or transit.
Utt also says the states should get no more money than is actually coming into the highway trust fund from gas taxes and other federal user fees (mainly truck taxes). This doesn’t sound earth-shattering, but the last reauthorization required Congress to appropriate a specified level of funds to the states even if revenues failed to cover those funds.
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Actually, Congress was scheduled to reauthorize funding in 2009, so it is already two years overdue. Federal transportation funding has been extended, generally a few months at a time, and Utt points out that the next extension is due to expire in March. Instead of extending it for six or eight more months and trying to pass legislation before the end of this year, Utt proposes to extend for two years to give Congress a chance “to reconsider the goals and purpose of a federal transportation program.” Utt (and the Antiplanner) would like to see a program “that shifts greater responsibility to the states and encourages the states to focus on modes and projects that provide cost-effective mobility”.
No doubt some will suspect Utt’s hidden agenda is to postpone reauthorization until after the next election, when Tea Party Republicans and other fiscal conservatives will have an opportunity to take control of the Senate as well as the House. Whether that is his intent or not, the current make-up of Congress is not likely to produce a sensible bill.
“Whether that is his intent or not, the current make-up of Congress is not likely to produce a sensible bill.”
Actually, using the Health Care bill as an example I don’t think congress is totally inept, just mostly inept. Here is the way it works as I see it. The majority hides in a back room and drafts legislation and then uses some political trickery to get it passed. The the other side become the majority, hides in the back room and cuts it back. New majority; add a little more. Next majority pushes back a little more.
In about 25 years we should have the good legislation that we could of had yesterday if the two sides would just sit together and compromise a bit. It’s okay, I’m still relatively young and can wait 😉
There is nothing good about the “health care” bill.
Metrosucks,
I would like to thank for your continued substantive contributions to the conversation. The brilliance with which you use data, provide examples and expand on ideas is breathtaking. Keep up the good work!
Bennett, it’s not going to work, if you know what I mean.
I’m not sure what you mean. If you think I’m trying to goat you into a reaction, you’re wrong. I’m trying to goat you into being a good commenter.
Simply ignoring the attention whore will improve the board and lower your blood pressure.
DS
Simply ignoring the attention whore will improve the board and lower your blood pressure.
Then why don’t we ignore you Dan? Oh, that’s right, we usually do.