Maurice Hinchey: “I believe that if a comprehensive infrastructure bill was brought to the full floor of this Congress, there would be…”

“I believe that if a comprehensive infrastructure bill was brought to the full floor of this Congress, there would be many people who would support it. I think it is quite clear that the infrastructure needs of the country are quite severe and that we ought to have a comprehensive approach to these infrastructure needs. But this is a particular appropriation for one particular State, $20 million in one fiscal year and an open-ended circumstance for the next several years, probably as much as $100 million over a 5-year period for the State of Alaska. As has been pointed out, this Congress has not been ungenerous to the State of Alaska. Alaska is second only to the State of Mississippi in terms of Federal per capita aid. In addition to that, the State has its own $42 billion fund from oil royalties. That fund will be distributed to every man, woman and child in the State this year as it was last year. Last year, every person in the State received about $1,300. That is $5,200 for a family of four. It is also true that Alaska has not been aggressive in taxing itself. This is a State without a State income tax, and much of the State does not have a State sales tax. So it is hard to imagine why the Congress would be appropriating this particular money for this one State for this one particular situation, particularly when the expenditure is so open-ended. In other words, this money could be spent for virtually anything.”