Watson Coleman: “the issue before us today is one of the perennial budget questions of our time--whether to unravel the unified budget…”

“the issue before us today is one of the perennial budget questions of our time--whether to unravel the unified budget methods that have worked well since the 1960s and consider the Transportation Trust Funds off budget. Like my Appropriations Committee colleagues speaking before me, I believe moving the Transportation Trust Funds off budget would result in an irresponsible budgeting process that would jeopardize many of our most cherished programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, education, and environmental protection programs. So, I am here to urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 842. Let me state from the outset that as the ranking minority member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, I am a strong supporter of maintaining and enhancing the Transportation Trust Funds. I believe our Nation must continue to invest an appropriate amount into transportation infrastructure projects in order to keep our economy strong and growing and prosperous. The Transportation Trust Funds are the primary vehicles which enable us to fulfill this responsibility, so we must act to keep them in good working order. However, I am convinced that moving the Trust Funds off budget would cause much more harm than good.”