Frank Thorb V reports that the House Advances Temporary Highway Fund Fix, extending the funds budget until May 2015, but not acting on President Obama's call to make the fund solvent for the long term. The Senate must pass this extension as well, before the end of July. Reid expects to do before the August recess.
In a 367-55 vote, the House easily passed legislation that would fund federal highway and transit programs through May 31, 2015. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he is optimistic the bill can be merged with Senate legislation and passed before Congress leaves for its August recess.
The bill provides the Highway Trust Fund with $11 billion by using pension tax changes, customs fees and a transfer from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. It has been criticized by conservative groups such as Heritage Action and Club for Growth for being paid for with "budget gimmicks," and both groups are encouraging members to vote against the measure.
The Highway Trust Fund is funded predominantly using the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal tax on gasoline and a 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal tax on diesel fuel. That revenue is not enough to keep up with the cost of the nation's highway programs for a number of reasons, and will become even less sustainable as more efficient cars are added to the nation's roads.
Speaker John Boehner has ruled out an increase to the gasoline tax to balance the shortfalls.
The politics of short-term crisis management becomes so tedious. The Republicans just want to create the impression and feeling that the functioning of government have broken down, and having Democrats in charge of the White House, and Senate is leaving the country in disarray and continuous crises.
The next election should let us know if the voters are going to let them keep getting away with this destructive political opportunism.