John Mica: “I think the gentleman raised some good points on the other side. We had a vote on this, and it is a closely divided…”

“I think the gentleman raised some good points on the other side. We had a vote on this, and it is a closely divided question. But I think all Members will hear from their State department of transportation. We have granted flexibility in the past. I am a great supporter of enhancements. I think we need things that some people may consider not asphalt and concrete, but things that enhance the beauty of our highways and transportation system in this country. But when you take a rescission of $3 billion, and States have obligations, and we have done this in the past to them, we have rescinded money in the past to them, I think we need to give them as much flexibility as possible to make the decisions, to make those cuts and to adjust their budgets. They get obligated for huge amounts of money and significant projects that are underway. And Members throughout this body will hear from their State department of transportation that they have projects underway that will have to be put on hold, that will be delayed, and that will cause a great disruption in their transportation planning and construction projects. So that's the reason that I think we should give them the same flexibility that they have had in the past. I am not asking for any more or any less.”