Congressman Pushes to Double Highway Spending

A U.S. Representative & the U.S. Transportation Secretary are at odds when it comes to the federal highway spending fund. Democratic Congressman James Oberstar from Minnesota, also the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, is seeking a 57% boost in federal highway and transit spending, an increase from $286.5 billion to $450 billion.

Representative Oberstar has set a six-year spending plan for this fund and hopes to get it approved before September 30th, when the authority to spend from the fund expires. Opposing Oberstar’s plan is U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who would like an 18-month extension of highway funding. LaHood’s 18-month reauthorization would allow the fund to replenish, which he says could run out in August. As for Oberstar’s 6-year, $450 billion plan, no decisions have been made on how to pay for the proposed increase, as fuel-saving cars and declines in driving have reduced gas tax revenues, which is how the federal trust gains funds.

Personally, I agree with LaHood and like his proposed plan. Let’s make sure the federal highway spending fund is solvent, and then let’s tackle the priorities for transportation. We would all love to double the amount of money that we spend on our federal highways and transit systems, but first, we need to make sure that we’ll have money to spend.