Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Highway trust fund

OMB: Senate Seeking Too Much Highway Money to Fund Transportation Bill

By Tanya Snyder | Dec 7, 2011 | 5 Comments

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and his Finance Committee have been looking high and low for a $12 billion patch to fund the transportation reauthorization bill that passed the Senate EPW Committee a few weeks ago. According to Politico’s transportation reporters, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, Sen. Orrin Hatch, has already rejected several of […]

Mica Warns Boxer on Highway Trust Fund; House Plans Hearing on “Drill Bill”

By Tanya Snyder | Nov 15, 2011 | 6 Comments

“I want to congratulate you on your Committee’s approval of the ‘Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act,” begins House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica’s letter yesterday to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. From there, the letter changes tone: However, I am concerned that the Senate two-year […]

Even the Godfather of Rail~Volution Wouldn’t Raise the Gas Tax Right Now

By Tanya Snyder | Oct 19, 2011 | 4 Comments

At Rail~Volution yesterday, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) — also known as the godfather of the “rail~volution” — said even he wouldn’t raise the gas tax right now. “We should make some adjustments to a gas tax that hasn’t increased since 1993,” Blumenauer said. “Half the people think the gas tax goes up every year.” He […]

New GAO Report: All States are “Donees” When it Comes to Highways

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 12, 2011 | 1 Comment

You’ve probably heard some grumbling or chuckling — depending on where you live — about the way federal highway funds are distributed to states. And it’s true that for quite some time, the country was divided into “donor” and “donee” states, each group either contributing more revenue than they received from the Federal-Aid Highway Program […]

Republicans Have Their Own Plan to Pay for Infrastructure Jobs: Oil Drilling

By Tanya Snyder | Sep 30, 2011 | 8 Comments

President Obama has proposed a plan to pay for the American Jobs Act, the $447 billion bill to create 1.9 million jobs, including $50 billion for infrastructure. His “pay-for” plan includes limitations on itemized deductions for the wealthy and the elimination of some tax loopholes for oil and gas companies. Republicans have a different idea, […]

“This Is Not a Good Bill”: Congress Holds Its Nose, Passes Debt Bill

By Tanya Snyder | Aug 2, 2011 | 1 Comment

Both houses of Congress have now put their stamp of approval on the bill to raise the debt ceiling, just hours before a deadline that would have lowered the U.S. credit rating, forced the country to default on its debts, and potentially triggered a worldwide recession. No one seems very excited about the legislation. Sen. […]

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