Washington — Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says the federal highway trust fund will run out of money this month.
Peters blames the shortage of funds on the high price of gasoline, which has prompted Americans to drive less. And by driving less, they use less fuel and pay less in federal gasoline tax.
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.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
jayhawklawrence (anonymous) says…
Here are two solutions that most Americans want.Cut pork barrel spending.Since the cost of providing services for oil burning vehicles has risen, we need to charge the oil companies more money for our services. Luckily, they are showing very strong profits at the same time our costs have risen and I am sure would be happy to pay for the cost of doing business.Send the invoice to ExxonMobil.....What part of this no-brainer do our politicians not understand.
repndem_natives (anonymous) says…
omg
notajayhawk (anonymous) says…
But - but - but - I thought the argument of the more-trains and more-public-mass-transit crowd was based on the fact that roads aren't paid for by such things as use taxes?
tonythetiger (anonymous) says…
Looks like it is time to go to war and fund the ARms race instead then.Everybody ready to vote?
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.