James Oberstar: “I have been advised that the administration has again sent a statement of administration policy drawing a line, the…”

“I have been advised that the administration has again sent a statement of administration policy drawing a line, the familiar term is drawing a line in the sand, but in the context in which we are discussing I would say a line in the asphalt or a line in the concrete. I hope it is wet concrete, that ``should the obligation or net authorization levels in the final bill exceed $283.9 billion, the President's senior advisors would recommend he veto the bill.'' I am not quite clear who senior advisors are. We have not heard from the Secretary of Transportation. I thought he was a senior adviser. He has not said anything about this. He has not sent any message up here. Who are these shadowy figures? What is the $283.9 billion, not 284? Is this the basement version, the discount version of transportation? So we just cannot squeak over 283.9? That is a magical number picked out of thin air. There is no justification for this number. We can invest more. The Highway Trust Fund will support more. Do not take it on my word; I have only been doing this for 40 years, but do not take my word. Take the Congressional Budget Office. If TEA-LU provides $283.9 billion, the Highway Trust Fund balance will be $17.5 billion in 5 years. That is $7.5 billion in highway account balances and a $10 billion surplus in the transit account. We are not being honest with the American public.”