Kay Bailey Hutchison: “we are not adding money to the bill. We are taking money in the bill that is unallocated--promised but not yet granted…”

“we are not adding money to the bill. We are taking money in the bill that is unallocated--promised but not yet granted to specific projects in specific States--and redistributing that on a fairer basis than that of political rewards in project money. We are trying to take the politics out and establish fairness for the States made superdonors, or stepchildren, in the Senate's highway bill. I hope people will look beyond their pet projects and see that everyone benefits and the money used is already in the bill. The amendment does not add even a penny. Yet it creates a fairer planing field for every State already. So I hope the Senate will rise above project fighting and distribute this funding on a formula basis in order to treat every State more fairly. Madam President, when I came to the Senate, one thing that impressed me the most is that although I was a member of the minority party at the time, no State ever was ever penalized for size or growth. Every State was given funding that matched its needs. This bill is setting a new precedent that has never been the policy of the Senate to use big States as providers for other States. Everyone can see this play is not fair. I hope Senators will support this amendment. We are not adding a dime to the bill. We are redistributing the money that is in the bill in a fairer way. No one loses from the formula that is in the bill, and everyone gains much-needed funding.”