opinion

Massie: No highway money for mass transit

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massieis a Republican from Garrison, Ky.

At a recent House Rules committee hearing, one of my colleagues from New York declared that the potholes in her district are so bad, “you can lose your car in them.” Kentuckians and Americans from all over the country agree. It is long past time that something was done to address the deplorable state of the highways and infrastructure in this country.

That is why I recently introduced the “Developing Roadway Infrastructure for a Vibrant Economy Act.” The DRIVE Act (H.R. 1461) would ensure that money in the Highway Trust Fund is actually spent on highways. Common sense would lead most people to believe that the gas tax revenue that funds the Highway Trust Fund should be spent specifically on highways, roads and bridges. However, when it comes to the operations of Congress and the federal government, common sense is uncommon.

Many Americans are unaware that gas tax revenue is regularly diverted from the federal Highway Trust Fund for such things as bike paths, sidewalks, mass transit and other purely local projects. This must end. Inflation and vehicle fuel efficiency have drained the fund so that it no longer generates enough revenue to pay for all the improvements necessary to ensure that our highways and bridges are safe and adequately maintained.

Each year, approximately $9 billion in the Highway Trust Fund goes to the Mass Transit Account, which funds local public transportation projects, including subways, light rail, buses and streetcars. Current federal law also allows the money in this trust fund to go toward sidewalks and bike paths. While I recognize the value of sidewalks and buses, taxing gasoline and routing that money through Washington is not the way to fund these inherently local projects.

Congress continually attempts to solve the problem with temporary “patches.” For example, in July 2014, Congress transferred $10 billion in tax revenue from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund to keep it solvent. Just last month, we again voted to temporarily patch the Trust Fund. This “patch” only lasts 60 days, though, ensuring that in two months, Congress will again be forced to deal with a manufactured emergency. As with most of these so-called emergencies that we regularly face in Congress, this one could be avoided if members would get their priorities straight and realize the urgency of a long-term solution for our deteriorating roads and bridges.

My DRIVE Act is one such long-term solution. Rather than increase the current 18.4-cent fuel tax for the Highway Trust Fund, we should first restore the fund to its original purpose. Support for my bill is growing, and co-sponsors include Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan, Dave Brat of Virginia, Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, Jim Jordan of Ohio and Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina.

Of all the things on which our federal government spends taxpayer dollars, transportation and national defense are specifically constitutional. In fact, I believe that transportation is critical to our national security. A nation with dilapidated roads and collapsing bridges is not a nation ready to defend itself in the wake of a national emergency or attack.

In two months, when Congress hits the next “deadline” for the insolvent Highway Trust Fund, let us hope that Congress considers a common-sense solution like the DRIVE Act, rather than simply another short-term patch. Americans shouldn’t have to worry about losing their car in a pothole the next time they’re on the road.