On the recordMay 13, 2015
The majority has found a new way to keep from funding a long-term surface transportation bill within 6 days: keep passing short-term patches. As a result, we are starving the Nation's infrastructure. Twenty-three States are so desperate that they have either raised their State gas taxes or are in the process; still, the states are screaming for Congress to have the guts to do the same. State gas taxes were meant to partner with the Federal tax. States can't do it alone. The States have shown that the public understands the gas tax is a user fee. The roads, bridges, and transit America most needs can't even be started with short-term patch funding. The people are leading us to their roads and bridges. It is time we followed, Mr. Speaker. ____________________
