The Hill: Republicans look to give federal transportation funds to states
House Republicans on Wednesday introduced legislation that would give states the authority for setting their own transportation infrastructure priorities, ending federal dominance on highway and mass transit spending.
The bill, H.R. 3264, would keep the 18.4-cents-per-gallon gas tax in place, but over a four-year period would transfer authority to states on how to spend that money. By October 2017, the states would have permanent and full control of 14.7 cents of that gas tax through block grants to states.
Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.), lead sponsor of the bill, said it is time to give states the authority over their infrastructure spending.
“Fifty-five years ago, President Dwight Eisenhower worked with Congress to create the Highway Trust Fund to construct our interstate highway system, authorizing a 16-year gas tax of 3 cents per gallon in order to pay for the entire project,” he said. “This mission is largely accomplished, yet today the gas tax stands at 18.4 cents per gallon.”
Language in the bill adds that it was the objective of the federal highway program to construct a modern freeway system that connects all states, and that “this objective has been obtained.”
The bill also states that the federal government has “over time, usurped the role of the States by taxing motor fuels used in the States and then distributing the proceeds to the States based on the Federal Government’s perceptions of what is best for the States.” This, according to the bill, has led states to take actions that are “not necessarily appropriate for individual States.”
The legislation would ensure that the Department of Transportation maintains responsibility for design and construction of roads and facilities on public land, emergency assistance to states and national transportation research programs.
