Thomas E. Petri: “The Kasich amendment, hearing some of the people describe it, sounds like a pretty good idea: Keep the money in the…”

“The Kasich amendment, hearing some of the people describe it, sounds like a pretty good idea: Keep the money in the States where it is generated and where it can be spent most efficiently, instead of sending it out to Washington and having all sorts of red tape added and then sending it back so we do not get as much investment for our infrastructure as we pay for. Is that what the Kasich amendment does? No. Last time I checked, what was the Federal gas tax? 18.4 cents. How much does the Kasich amendment send back? 18.4 cents? No, 11 cents. What happens to the rest? Stays in Washington, at least a lot of it, and is spent on other things. So in my State, in Wisconsin, what is being said? This is saying we want to increase taxes at the State level because we will give them in Washington 11 cents, and in order to maintain the transportation investment in their infrastructure they will have to raise their gas taxes how much? 11 cents? No, 15 cents. As my colleagues know, the Governors and a lot of experts watching what is happening in our national Federal system have been pointing out that people in Washington cut back on spending and it has to be picked up at the State and local level and higher taxes at the State and local level, and then we pat ourselves on the back for supposedly cutting burdens when all we are doing is shifting it to the State and local level.”