Political Quotes

“before I say anything, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Senator Boxer, Senator Inhofe and to members of our staff and your staff for their hard work. This is good stuff. Thank you. I wish to take 1 minute or so to talk about an amendment I have filed to this legislation with Senator Kirk and Senator Warner, to whom I offer my sincere thanks as well as a whole lot of organizations around the country which supported this legislation. Under current law a small number of States around the country now enjoy the flexibility to implement tolls on interstate highways. Under the amendment we filed, some additional States could choose to apply for that same flexibility. States would only use the toll revenues--a type of user fee--to pay for additional transportation investments along those roads that are actually being tolled. In Delaware and a handful of other States, interstate toll revenue is an important part of the State's transportation budget. Senators Kirk, Warner, and I believe other States should have the same option available to them. However, in an effort to move this critical transportation legislation forward, Senator Hutchison and I have both agreed not to offer our competing amendments to the bill. That being said, I filed this amendment, in part, because Congress needs to face the facts when it comes to transportation funding and declining gas tax revenues.…”