to cover certain and known future costs is not ok. It is not fiscally conservative and even if there were no other reason, it’s enough for a no vote. At what point will we learn to stop spending money we don’t have?

Your premise, and that of Speaker Boehner, is wrong. There should be no federal infrastructure spending. Styles should be 100% responsive for maintaining all roads, bridges, et al within their borders.

Stop washing money through the bureaucracy and using a portion of it for pok projects and simp,y leave it with the states.

“Then, it completely overhauls the way highway spending is done and gives states the ability to set five-year plans to meet their local needs.”

How kind of you to support “allowing” the states to meet their own needs. Now you just need to get the meddlesome meddlers in DC out of the way.

Don’t get me wrong. This bill contains some very important reforms. There are some provisions that should be applauded by conservatives and you reference some very important reforms.
The Keystone provision is excellent and may be the hook for some conservatives to support the measure, yet this bill has some serious flaws.
The problems with this bill are three fold.
First, this bill spends too much. You argue that “the bill also cuts spending in the short term – largely for federal workers – to make sure the plan won’t add a dime – ever – to our deficit.” That isn’t good enough.
Our national debt is at about $15.2T and our debt for this fiscal year is expected to breach $1T for the fourth year in a row.
Conservatives want to see spending cut for the purposes of reducing the deficit, not to pay for more highway projects. The bill is too big and Rep. Mica expanded spending in his latest version is further evidence that it is too big. The latest version of Mica’s bill spends too much.
Second, this bill is loaded with executive branch directed pet projects. Just because House and Senate Republicans have temporarily shut down the flavor factory of earmarks does not mean that there will be no wasteful projects in this bill. You write “The last highway bill had more than 6,300 earmarks – including the Bridge to Nowhere. This bill has zero. No earmarks. No pet projects. No more funneling your money to parochial interests. That is a sea change in Washington that conservatives should be proud of, not cloud with false statements like that.”
The President’s stimulus plan was loaded with special interest projects. This bill will empower the executive branch to funnel government road projects to friends of Obama. Just because the waste is not Republican directed waste does not excuse the massive amounts of money that will be sent to pals of the President.
The most egregious problem with the bill is the lack of any suspension of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage mandates as part of this Republican crafted bill. Davis-Bacon will force bloated wages to be paid to the union workers handling these road projects. It is a massive waste of taxpayer dollars to pay inflated wages for these road projects and will leave less infrastructure as a result. More money in wages means less money in roads and bridges.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong with any of the above arguments.

This sounds just like the former Soviet Union and if you care to remember they failed dramatically

It is hard for many conservatives to accept your arguments at face value. We do not even get to the merits until we are satisfied that John is on our side. His abdication of leadership on the national debt negotiations are symptomatic of the problem. And it he is now prepared to throw in the towel on Fast and Furious, many of us will no longer listen to what he says. You might mention that to him when you get a chance.

http://www.westernjournalism.com/john-boehner-to-halt-fast-and-furious-investigation-sell-out-to-holder-and-white-house/

vigilant in keeping Obama et al. in check.

I hope Mr. Erickson’s article didn’t make Mr. Boehner cry.

Typical establishment GOP. Go after your own side harder than the enemy.

Washington doesn’t have the mandate or the trust needed.

shows that they are having serious trouble rounding up votes. Either you pay for somthing or you don’t. After the graft and lies that surrounded Medicare Part D, please don’t present any more Rube Goldberg mechanisms for paying the bills. If roads need fixed, raise taxes or cut spending, and fix them. If you can’t find the votes to do that, do nothing.

Will there be a conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of this?

I like the changes the House GOP has put on the table. This is a BABY step in the right direction. I’d like to think that a GOP President and Congress would get rid of this tax and spending program altogether.

Will there be a conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of this?

I like the changes the House GOP has put on the table. This is a BABY step in the right direction. I’d like to think that a GOP President and Congress would get rid of this tax and spending program altogether.

although I agree that the costs should be covered by the gas tax.

Just make sure it doesn’t lose it’s good parts when it comes back from conference.

…. can we just try something really crazy like, ummmmm I don’t know….. like….

SPENDING LESS MONEY

instead of spending more money.

I know its a crazy idea, but I kind of liked it.

The last highway bill had more than 6,300 earmarks – including the Bridge to Nowhere. This bill has zero. No earmarks.

Sorry Mr. Buck, but the earmark boogieman doesn’t work on this particular issue. Highway projects that get federal money absolutely SHOULD be delineated ahead of the vote. Congressional lawmakers SHOULD know if the projects being funded are worthwhile or simply boondoggles. Not specifying projects in the bill via earmarks doesn’t mean that the “Bridge to Nowhere II” won’t happen — it merely means that the House of Representatives will not get a chance to vote to stop it from happening.

Still Washington as usual. Get Amtrak funding out of there, drop all the junk programs for hov, trains, ferries, non-interstate tunnels and bridges, eliminate Davis Bacon and buy American rules, stop with the dbe (affirmative action) nonsense etc. We can read these crap bills for ourselves.

The current Republican leadership is completely gutless and incompetent.

As near as I can tell, Boehner spends all of his time figuring out precisely how he should surrender to the latest Democrat initiative, and what he should say at the press conference when he spins his latest capitulation.

That we are not going to get our High-Speed 20 mile rail to nowhere in Honolulu? The one that does not even go to the Honolulu International Airport. The one that has been robbing taxpayers for years with the promise of more federal funding…before approvals. The one that our Gov. Neil Abercommie (who has known Barry since birth) and Senator Daniel Inouye (Appropriations Chair) swears he will get the funding…you know, because of that Barry connection.

We have the highest taxes, highest electricity, worse roads in the nation and we need to be paying for another useless project forever..that benefits Who? .NOT!

at least Mr Buck will get to see/read some good desenting opinions and hopefully he will take them back to the leadership and break the bubble of isolation that many in DC sometimes live in. What we want to see is the folks in DC to fight for us and CUT SPENDING not just hold what we have and pat ourselves on our backs. Cut. Cut. Cut. Thanks Mr Buck for stepping into the lions den.

When the Senate resists Keystone, insists on adding spending, etc. will the House ‘compromise’ and give us the worst of both worlds? Maybe we’ll get another Super Committee to resolve the differences? Even if this is a very good bill at the moment, the Leadership has no cred. Do we believe they will hold the line and refuse a bad compromise. When it comes to ‘good bill vs. no bill’ their track record is not reassuring.

The highway system is now, or nearly, complete. Thank you, Uncle Sam, now go away.

The biggest concern I have is, as a resident of a state like NC, the state pols are even more corrupt than the ones we send to Washington — if that is even possible. Our highway fund is the largest ticket item in the budget, but precious few dollars actually make it to the roads. Rather than Washington taking our money from us and graciously returning 93% back to the states, I’d much prefer not sending the money to the Fed to begin with and keep it here. Then, if the Fed is responsible for anything, it is responsible for passing a law that forces states to spend gas tax money on roads and no other projects of any kind for any purpose either directly or through subtrifuge.

The transportation bill, in its current form, is unacceptable to conservatives and should be voted down. The only thing that is possibly good that comes out of it is the pipeline. Send the pipeline override by itself for an up or down vote and let the voter sort out the mess in November.

seriously because the bill is lousy and your attacks are more about demeaning Erickson than addressing in detail why Boehner has a better plan.

While I agree in part more fed leases should be granted for energy priduction, I ask was the GOP on forcing Obama to open up drilling that Obama shut down in the Gulf of Mexico before now? Why hasn’t the GOP filed a lawsuit to reverse the executive order or passed a bill forcing the senate to take a stand against jobs and energy independence? You’ve had well over a year. Why did the GOP allow Obama to fund a Brazilian offshore drill with taxpayer funds? It seems to me that the real whoppers are coming from a Buck who is getting his horns knocked off.

As for the gax tax, drop it! Take money from useless entitlements that are outdated or overlapped with other similar entitlements. Its time to force a change from within with a tough fight that men like Congressman Alan West are willing to fight. I really don’t think you people in DC get it, we said NO NEW TAXES. And that includes gas taxes especially when gas prices are expected to peak at $4 to $5 per gallon this summer. While some will drive less, commuters and those who can afford to travel shall pay more taxes at the current rate. Take from other items in the budget and focus on killing any highway project that can wait 2 or more years. Yes, kill some because we know both parties funded pet projects that wasted highway funds, especially those where taxpayer money was used to pave roads that pass by Congressmans’s homes and vacation properties. We’re taxed enough already……………..fyi, if this doesn’t change your mind. Please call Grover Cleveland and ask for his public approval.

We’ll see about earmarks as the bill isn’t finished and we all remember recent bills and people on the hill lying with big whoppers to make excuses for wreckless spending. Glad to see you posting here because it says RS is making a difference on the hill while also taking government to task.

That if this bill gets enacted then the first thing that will happen is gas taxes will be increased to pay for it.

Secondly, has Mr. Buck EVER seen a transportation project close up? If these things aren’t porkified, then I don’t know what is. This is just another PORK bill, capital P.

Thirdly, there is growing evidence that people are going to start coming after Boehner with pitchforks instead of just words and blogs because of this additional spending.

Fourthly, only a fool would think that “shazaam” it will open up Keystone. Even if it completes the permitting for one government agency or a dozen government agencies there are still 80 bazillion other government agencies to stop it, and they will. Trust me, since I am old I have seen where projects can get postponed for DECADES…

Fifthly, adding “Jobs” to any bill is completely against conservative thought. The government can’t create permanent jobs. This is complete spin. It is a crock that somehow the government would magically help private enterprise do business. Where was Mr. Boehner for the last 25 years when the government put millions of rules in place to prevent business from functioning?

One of the major reasons that our highway infrastructure does not have adequate funds to maintain and progress is the cost factor not the availability of funds. One solution is to pass the federal “Right to Work” bill. Union controlled states drive up costs astronomically. The next time you go by a highway project in a union state stop and watch a while. The waste and number of non-working supervisors will astound you.

One of the major reasons that our highway infrastructure does not have adequate funds to maintain and progress is the cost factor not the availability of funds. One solution is to pass the federal “Right to Work” bill. Union controlled states drive up costs astronomically. The next time you go by a highway project in a union state stop and watch a while. The waste and number of non-working supervisors will astound you.

It’s hard to add another without repeating at least one, but some are worth repeating.

For example, the federal public sector was never intended to be a jobs program, but that’s what it is, and most news media organizations, from which most Americans learn everything they know, reinforce this as right, good and just.

It’s stupid, too: a recipe for trouble.

If the federal public sector did its job correctly, it wouldn’t need to borrow any money to keep the highways repaired, or to build highways that adaquately meet transportation needs. So, the whole idea of a bill for highway repair is, on its face, an error. We have the money. We have the laws. We don’t need more.

I’m an over-the-road trucker.

I feel compelled to add, to curtail assumptions about truck drivers, that I’ve also been–and will likely one day again be–an English Professor and a professional writer.

But for now the Interstate system is my workplace, and I’m intimately familiar with how it’s operated and maintained. It was largely built in less than 15 years, but parts of it have been “under repairs” for decades. Other parts of it are in a shambles and aren’t being repaired. Repairing some parts would create chaos.

The system was designed for about a third of the traffic now using it. It was outdated almost before it was completed (in 1972, supposedly), and extensive expansion and maintence should have been a much bigger part of its original planning. (So much for “visonary leadership.”) Most of the worst roads are so heavily over-used that repairing them will be almost impossible without causing major transportation problems.

The best solution seems to be building a second interstate system for motorists to use while the first is repaired, then combining the two systems as one and energetically maintaining it . . . with no thought of “job creation” or borrowed money, seeing as it’s not supposed to be a jobs program, and current taxes and tolls provide more than enough money.

That being said, state and federal departments of transportation waste an unbelievable amount of money. I see it as I drive. Their mentality isn’t to spend wisely, but to overspend as a means to requesting a larger (taxpayer-supported) budget the following year. Furthermore, these people are bureaucrats. By the nature of their jobs, everything they do costs taxpayers money, and we have millions and millions of them on local, state and federal levels. All they do–all they’re hired to do–is spend and regulate. That’s the fundamental nature of their jobs.

Not to be vulgar, but to illustrate the point: if one DOT worker uses the bathroom, the taxpayers pay for the paper. If two DOT workers use the bathroom, the taxpayers pay for twice as much paper. If one DOT bureaucrat writes one regulation a year, two DOT workers write two regulations a year and require two, instead of one, technical writers to put the laws to paper and, for all of that, twice as much paper again . . . and computers, and printers, and offices, and personnel to maintain it all, and supervisors, and human resources directors, and workplace stress counselors, and, and, and . . ..

They need more shovels to on which to lean, and they need somebody to write the 400-page, safe-and-proper-shovel-operation-care-and-maintenance manual, and someone to make sure all shovel-management-specialists read the manual, and someone to administer the exams to make sure . . ..

Then, of course, we have the proper, safe and effective use of orange cones and barrels: (union) jobs, jobs, jobs. Ain’t it great?

So, these public-sector departments are looking to hire more and more workers. That costs more. But everything these people do costs more, and requires more public-sector workers to be hired. So this phenomenon grows exponentially, and I see this as I drive.

Local, state and federal DOT employees buy, install and maintain signs and electronic billboards that we don’t need, didn’t request and can’t afford. They create construction projects with the intention of them lasting as long as possible. They create regulations that suit them. After all, these are their jobs. It’s what they were hired to do. What else can we expect?

They’ve kind of become a nation unto themselves, seperate and apart from the taxpayers who support them, and who they’re hired to serve. They don’t operate as servants. They operate as controllers: as authorities. In fact, some even name themselves “transportation authorities,” and the media refer to them not as servants, but as “officials” and “authorities.” They spend with no thought of conserving, but with every thought to spending more. They want to know how they can get more money, and more and more of them are being hired every year, which means more and more of them must be hired every year, which means . . ..

Screw John Gault. What I want to know is, who’s Godot?

Even traffic law enforcement has been largely reduced to revenue income. Troopers and local cops mostly just park and bust speeders with radar guns, and even for a relatively minor fender-bender, they shut down entire interstates and call out the cavalry: fire trucks and dozens of police. It’s what they’re hired to do. I doubt many of them actually like it, but it’s what they’re hired to do.

I see this and other expensive, counter-productive and imposing behavior, indicating a like mentality, all the time: every day, day after day. It’s baffling. It seems insane. We as a people are making so much noise about over-spending, deficit reduction and cutting costs and, sumultaneously, public-sector departments of transportation seem intent on consuming more, wasting more and hiring more, and meanwhile our Interstate system, which takes in a lot of money, is outdated and, in some places, in pretty rough shape, and our politicians are blathering on and on about borrowing more to maintain it, and they call it “progress.”

Progress? This is lunacy. It seems like Moe, Larry and Curly are in charge. It’s a mess, from the policy room to the planning and drawing-board all the way through to the–what’s the word?–”execution,” and it becomes clear that building and adaquately maintaining a highway system isn’t even remotely on anybody’s mind or, if it is, they’re arguably incompetent.

What are they, nuts? We want to spend less money, not more. No–hell no–they can’t have more money. They already have too much.

They’re not “officials” or “authorities.” They’re servants. Their rightful mentality is their masters’–the taxpayers’–needs and instructions.

Ha! What am I, nuts, thinking these people are servants? We can’t fire them. We can’t even make sure they do their jobs. We can’t regulate them, and all they do–what they’re hired to do–is regulate us, right down to the Bozos who put thousands and thousands of those freakin’ orange barrels and cones wherever it suits them, and the geniuses who close major traffic arteries, and back up traffic for dozens of miles, and cost millions of dollars in wasted time and gas, while The Little Rascals monkey around with an unnecessary guard-rail repair; right down to the “authorities” who call out ambulances, fire trucks and dozens of police cars to close three lanes of a four-lane, big-city bypass, and create taffic chaos, because two cars got in a fender-bender.

We pay for this. This is our system. It’s out of control, and those to whom we’d turn to bring order to it are those who are now arguing over ways to make it even worse: more money, more “authorities” and “officials,” the overabundance of whom added to the problem in the first place.

I don’t see it getting better. I see it getting worse.

“The guvvermint’s gonna fix the highway.” Oh, please . . ..

Our public sectors–specific to this rant, local, state and federal departments of transportation–are going to take care of themselves, first and foremost. It’s what they do, and the rest of us–the taxpayers who support them–can go to hell for all they care.

I see it every day.

I’ve posted something that came through the e-mail…it just about says it all. If you like it…get it around. No wonder they are planning for assault on the government…they’re provoking it…BOTH PARTIES…AND THE IDIOT…OH AND THE CZARS

http://obamashlamadama.com/YT-embed/are-you-kidding-me.html

Have you ever noticed that when the build a new school, they never take into account that the district is growing. If the school is good….they never buy enough…BECAUSE GOD FORBID those kids have to climb stairs.

What happens to all the old schools? This was something that went on in FL all the time. Taxes…Taxes..Taxes. We knew that the school district would grow…we had people from the South and people from the North flooding Jupiter. So…they don’t buy enough land…it can only be on one level. STUPID…STUPID…STUPID.

or even read anything about the bill outside of RS, so I’ll decline to comment on most of the points. Suffice it to say, I am cynical about highway bills emanating from DC, and this post does nothing to ameliorate that sentiment on my part. It does not follow that a greater amount of domestic drilling (something which will reduce gas prices/barrel and thus tax revenues/barrel) would be a revenue generator for government, and thus cover the cost of this expensive bill. From the outside, this seems to me a dual purpose bill that both parties wanted for different reasons (Obama to reduce unemployment/increase the reach of the civil bureaucracy, and Republicans to open up Keystone), but that no one wants to claim as their own.

is another big government spending boondoggle, according to Heritage Action and Club for Growth. Erick is right. Here’s part of Club for Growth’s concise and informative summary:

“Simply put, this is a massive 846-page bill that doesn’t cut any spending at all. Indeed, it spends at least $30 billion more by supplementing fuel taxes with additional revenue from other sources.”

The conservative alternative transportation bill is H.R. 3264 (sponsored by Tom Graves of Georgia last fall) and its senate companion bill, S. 1164 (sponsored by Jim DeMint, and cosponsored by Mike Lee).

While the bloated bill that you are advocating has one cosponsor, the bill by Rep. Graves has 17 cosponsors, including some of the most conservative members of the House:

Rep Amash, Justin [MI-3]
Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10]
Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3]
Rep Duncan, Jeff [SC-3]
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2]
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1]
Rep Gowdy, Trey [SC-4]
Rep Lankford, James [OK-5]
Rep Mulvaney, Mick [SC-5]
Rep Ross, Dennis [FL-12]
Rep Schweikert, David [AZ-5]
Rep Scott, Tim [SC-1]
Rep Walberg, Tim [MI-7]
Rep Walsh, Joe [IL-8]
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3]
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2]
Rep Woodall, Rob [GA-7]

I don’t know why Speaker Boehner is now ruining his heretofore good record of being against bloated transportation bills, but I hope he will change his mind and take a genuinely conservative approach on this subject. I also hope House conservatives will say no to the bill for which you have penned this whopping piece of doublespeak, and that they will press for a fiscally responsible bill, or else just leave the Highway Trust Fund to be addressed by the new (and more conservative) congress after the 2012 election.

of telling a “whopper” considering how many whoppers come out of Washington on a daily basis.

If you read redstate regularly, you’re likely to see some great suggestions and ideas about how to resolve many of the issues facing our country. If you don’t, you should start for the reason I just gave. Apparently, yours and Speaker Boehner’s aren’t working.