Thomas Massie Op-Ed: No highway money for mass transit

[tsai3904]

No highway money for mass transit

Thomas Massie
June 16, 2015

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.

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More:
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opin...nsit/28801727/

[acptulsa]

But--that's one of their favorite ways to steal from the poor of the Great Plains and give to the rich of the Northeastern states. Like when they make Oklahoma pay the same federal taxes as everyone else, then refuse to provide Amtrak service unless we pay all the costs separately from our regular federal taxes--all so Connecticut can have better service at our expense.

Hey, Thomas Massie. How about you introduce a law repealing the federal fuel tax outright? Sounds like a useful thing for you to do.

[The Free Hornet]

But--that's one of their favorite ways to steal from the poor of the Great Plains and give to the rich of the Northeastern states.

Yep. A lot of illiberal statists like to argue that the oil industry is subsidized. Is it worth $9 billion to tell them that their walking is subsidized by my driving? Of course the reality is to steal from everybody and dole out lesser amounts as benefits the thieving climate.

[jtap]

I love when Massie uses phrases like "Common sense would lead most people to believe that...".