Porter Goss: “I thank the gentleman from greater San Dimas, California, for yielding me the time. I rise in support of this fair…”

“I thank the gentleman from greater San Dimas, California, for yielding me the time. I rise in support of this fair- structured rule. It is a good process that makes in order amendments from both side of the aisle. Today we seek to balance two important goals: Maintaining, enhancing our Nation's roads and highways on the one hand, while remaining committed to last year's balanced budget agreement on the other. We all know we need more infrastructure, and we all know we need more fiscal responsibility how to deal with it. Additional concern of the folks I represent in Florida is not a new one: Providing equity to donor States through the transportation funding formula. I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for addressing the equity issue. BESTEA does represent an improvement in terms of rate of return. We are pleased to see that. Under the current formula, Florida should receive 90 cents back on the dollar as opposed to 83 cents or less currently set in law. That is progress. I think it is equity. But I have got to say I am disappointed that this long-awaited reform has to come at the expense of fiscal discipline. Instead of prioritizing our resources and making the tough choices, this bill creates a larger pie for everyone. It is one way of doing things, sort of a classic Washington response. We do not have enough money to do everything we want. We make a bigger pie, spend anyway, and hope that things work out.…”