(September 6, 2008)—U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says the federal highway trust fund will run out of money this month because the high price of gasoline has prompted Americans to drive less.
That means motorists are using less gasoline and paying less in federal gasoline taxes, which is the source of the trust fund’s money.
At a midday press conference Friday, Peters said the agency will have to delay payments to state road and bridge projects that the federal government is helping finance.
At the same time, she wants Congress to pass legislation that includes $8 billion to help cover the shortfall.
Four times this year, Republicans in the Senate have blocked a measure that would shore up the fund.
“Time and again, the President has warned Congress of the pending shortfall and submitted fiscally prudent budgets to close the gap,” Peters said Friday.
“Americans cannot afford to have Congress play ‘kick the can’ with highway funding for another year, another month, or frankly, another week.”
Republican Central Texas Congressman John Carter, however, blames inaction by Democrats on energy legislation for the situation.
“When is Speaker Pelosi going to get the picture? At what point in time will the Democrat majority come back to Washington from their five week vacation and pass sound energy policy?” Carter said in a statement released Friday.
Carter says he’s “strong supporter” of legislation to transfer $8 billion from the general fund to the highway trust fund.
“The Senate needs to pass this bill and get it to the president, but this short-term solution isn’t enough to cover Texas’ highway needs let alone the mistakes made by the Democratic Congress,” he said.
Department Of Transportation Web Site
Save
Email
Print
30 comments
Terms of Use -
Privacy Policy -
EEO Statement
-
FCC Form 388