TJ Cox: “Mr. Chairman, everything that was just said makes a great deal of sense provided that we stipulate that the Federal…”

“Mr. Chairman, everything that was just said makes a great deal of sense provided that we stipulate that the Federal Government is the low-cost provider, that the most efficient way to get the most roads, the most bridges, and the most transportation is to send the money to Washington first where the freight charges can be deducted or where it can be run through the bureaucracy here and then shipped pack to the States. If we think that Washington is the best way to do it, getting the Washington bureaucracy involved is the most efficient way to do it, then, by all means, keep sending our gas taxes to Washington, D.C., even after the Interstate Highway Program was all finished, which it was in 1991. If we think the Washington bureaucracy is the low-cost provider, then, by all means, vote for the status quo. If we think Washington knows best, send all our money back here. But if we want more transportation, more highways, more bridges, more infrastructure, more transit, then take the full dollar of gas tax and spend it at home. This program guarantees us a full 90 percent of what we send to Washington. It is time to get 100 percent. That is what this amendment will do.”