Political Quotes

“This is a terrible amendment because particularly for the Northern States, it will destroy the opportunity to have funding as they prepare for the winter season. It is wrong to pass another short-term extension. Now that the May 1 deadline is before us, it is irresponsible to impose additional short-term extensions. An extension is going to interrupt the State's critical summer contracting season. It is going to force the Northern tier States to virtually lose an entire construction season. There will be insufficient funds available for the States to have the certainty to go forward with critical projects. This amendment will delay any implementation of BESTEA until the last quarter of fiscal 1998 and will put out additional funds, get this, additional funds under the unfair Senate-imposed formula that was included in the short-term bill that is now before us. Many more States will receive more apportionments and obligation authority than they would receive for the entire year under BESTEA. This will preclude a full formula change for this year. Donor States will have to wait another year for the formula, the fair formula, which we have in this bill, to take, fully take effect. This will completely upset the minimum allocation program and apportion more funds that are not subject to any equity adjustment. Members' projects will not be able to begin.”