Letting Congress Be Congress: Transportation Funding
A new president is in charge, but Congress' allergy to innovation and reliance on outmoded ideas hasn't really changed at all. Exhibit B: the transportation funding amendment that Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) are pushing to add to the stimulus bill this week.
Labor unions are throwing their weight behind this transport amendment, which sounds great -- it adds $5 billion for mass transit and $13 billion for highways. But consider that roads are already in line for $27 billion in the stimulus, with little to no conditions to ensure the money goes to repairs rather than new highways.
"What concerns us most is that this $40 billion at the moment would go to [state departments of transportation] with almost no accountability in terms of national priorities: no fix it first requirement, no demonstrable national transportation priority, no accountability for impact on oil dependence and climate," David Goldberg, spokesman for the advocacy group Transportation for America, told me.
Also consider that "new starts," the type of groundbreaking transit projects that could revitalize cities and suburbs with greener options such as light rail, would only be getting $1 billion if the Feinstein-Murray amendment passes. As of now, the Senate is spending no money on new starts.
In addition, Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is said to be wavering on whether to open the bill's $5.5 billion transit grant program to highway projects.
Sure, legislating has always been like sausage-making. But didn't we just elect a president who promised to at least try to change the ways of Washington? Did Obama's supporters believe his vow to create the biggest public works program since the invention of the interstate highway system?
| TOPICS: Barack Obama, Capitol Culture, Jim Inhofe, Senate, Stimulus
Josh
Matt
Eric
Neat. Look at what I just got from John McCain's mailing list.
Dear McCain Supporter,
Yesterday, the Senate began debate on an economic stimulus package that is intended to get our economy back on track and help Americans who are suffering through these difficult times. Unfortunately, the proposal on the table is big on the giveaways for the special interests and corporate high rollers, yet short on help for ordinary working Americans. I cannot and do not support the package on the table from the Democrats and the Obama Administration. Our country does not need just another spending bill, particularly not one that will load future generations with the burden of massive debt. We need a short term stimulus bill that will directly help people, create jobs, and provide a jolt to our economy.
I believe we need to evaluate every bit of spending in this stimulus proposal with one important criteria - does it really stimulate the economy and help create jobs - if the answer is no, it does not belong in a so-called stimulus package. Furthermore, the stimulus must include significant direct relief to American workers in the form of payroll tax cuts and programs to help homeowners keep their homes. Finally, we need an end game to this stimulus so that when our economy recovers, these spending programs do not remain permanent and saddle our children with a skyrocketing national debt.
I appreciate the discussions President Obama is having with my Republican colleagues, but the time for talking has come to an end and we must now begin some serious negotiation. But as of yet, Republicans have not been given the opportunity to be involved. The House of Representatives passed a stimulus bill without a single Republican supporting it. In the Senate, the Democrat leadership is trying to jam the existing proposal through regardless of reservations from a number of members. With so much at stake, the last thing we need is partisanship driving our attempts to turn the economy around.
I have long been a fighter against wasteful spending in Washington and long an advocate for a balanced budget -- that will never change. I realize we face extraordinary challenges with our economy today, but that is not an excuse for more irresponsibly from Washington. I hope you will join me in saying no to this stimulus package as it currently exists by signing this petition.
Sincerely,
John McCain
Chair, Country First PAC
February 3, 2009 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ummmm. You can just smell the bipartisanship, can't you?
Heckuva job, Democrats!
February 3, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think we can spend too much on infrastructure. Whatever the final tab, it's going to be hundreds of billions short of what is necessary.
The engineers just told us the other day we need $2.2 trillion over 5 years and are only currently "planning" to spend half of that. Add in the recession and we probably won't do half of the planned part.
I say take out ALL of the tax cuts, including personal tax cuts, and put it all into infra.
February 3, 2009 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am confused I thought Obama was in charge of everything. There's still a congress?
February 3, 2009 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
So why are Feinstein and Murray pushing it? Wouldn't you think that they would be a little more forward looking? WOuldn't major metropolitan areas like San Francisco-San Jose, Los Angeles/Orange County, Seattle and San Diego be desperate for more investment in rail and other mass transit?
February 3, 2009 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
The problem is the absence of a "fix-it-first" requirement. I'm surprised they don't simply add that. States certainly have plenty of unmet maintenance needs for their transportation and water infrastructure. Also, maintenance and rehabilitation projects should require less environmental clearance and right-of-way acquisition than new construction. That means they should be a faster way of stimulating the economy.
February 3, 2009 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink