Tom Coburn: “What this amendment does is it ultimately eliminates a State's right to leverage its assets over an amortization…”

“What this amendment does is it ultimately eliminates a State's right to leverage its assets over an amortization schedule that would allow it to expand its highway system. What we are doing is we are taking money we have taken from the States, sending it up here, and saying: If you have an asset in your State--unless you are building a brandnew road--you cannot use that asset to leverage your capital to build more roads in your State. It is against the 10th amendment. It is morally wrong to take away a State's right to enhance its capital assets. I urge a ``no'' vote. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 1759.”