Foxx, Obama Administration Urge Congress To Act On Funding Highway Trust

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

With 112,000 infrastructure projects and 700,000 jobs at stake, the Obama administration and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx are both urging Congress find a way to provide funding to the United States Highway Trust Fund before the well goes dry as early as August.

Autoblog reports both parties offered Congress a four-year funding bill that would help raise the needed funds through tolling by individual states, and through closing a loophole on deferred corporate taxes on overseas earnings, which alone would bring $150 billion to the table.

In the Senate, an alternative bill is in the works that would retain funding levels at $105 billion annually with interest for six years, though sourcing the funds would come at a later date. Meanwhile, Republican legislators aren’t keen on raising taxes to fund the trust, especially during the 2014 election season.

As for why the fund is running dry, an 18.4-cent-per-gallon fuel tax issued in the 1990s hasn’t been raised in over 20 years to keep up with increased fuel efficiency among new vehicles, with more increases coming down the CAFE pipeline.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Kabayo Kabayo on May 15, 2014

    The bottom line is always the same: GET THE GOVERNMENT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ECONOMY. Everything government touches turns to shit.

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on May 16, 2014

    I think you have to live within your means. If you need roads, fuel tax is the fairest system. It might not be perfect, but it's would be quite close. The heavier a vehicle the more fuel it will use as a rule. Increase State and Federal taxes for road construction. It seems everyone wants everything, but no one wants to pay for it. The US could move towards a 'scaled' user pays system.

  • 50merc 50merc on May 16, 2014

    At the very least we could stop mandating construction funds be spent on "public art". Often the diversion is 1%. Construction funds should be spent on construction, not to provide a sinecure for the esthetically privileged. Let 'em find a Medici willing to pay the bill.

  • SoCalMikester SoCalMikester on May 16, 2014

    how about just slowly doubling the tax already? people are used to gas prices going up 20 cents in a matter of days- chances are the tax increase really wouldnt be felt by anyone

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