Saying the funding is needed to reduce congestion and improve unsafe roadways, the U.S. Senate Tuesday passed a $295 billion highway-spending bill by a vote of 89-11, despite the threat of a presidential veto.
The bill calls for spending $11 billion more than the $284 billion authorized by the House version, which the White House says is the most it would accept.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, voted against the bill because of what she said was the “unacceptable gas tax reimbursement rate for Texas.”
Under the bill, Hutchison said, Texas and other so-called donor states receive less for highways from the federal government than they pay in gasoline taxes.
The bill gives Texas 91.3 cents on the dollar, Hutchison says, which is an improvement over the 90.5 cents authorized in the previous highway bill, but still inadequate.
“The return rate is an improvement, but does not unburden Texas from its donor state status, a status it has held for nearly 50 years,” Hutchison said.
The formula offers the least relief to states whose cities are growing most rapidly,” Hutchison said.
“I am not asking for special treatment; I am asking that Texas taxpayers get their fare share for the more than 300,000 highway miles that canvass the state. I will continue to work with the conference committee to increase Texas’ share.”
