John
Boehner’s announcement of his resignation as Speaker, and Kevin McCarthy’s
abrupt withdrawal from the race to succeed him, have plunged into limbo once
again all hopes for resolution of the Highway Trust Fund’s long term funding
issues before the current patch expires on October 29, 2015. Look for another
short term bill to keep funds flowing to road and bridge construction projects
around the nation while Congress once more punts the problem into the 2016
legislative session.
House
Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Schuster (R-Pa.) has scheduled
his full committee’s markup of the House version of a three year Highway Trust
Fund appropriation bill for 10:00 a.m. October 22, in Room 2167 of the Rayburn
House Office Building, just one week before the current authorization expires
on October 29. That leaves clearly insufficient time for action on the House
floor, and a conference committee resolution of differences with the Senate’s
three year, $50 billion bill passed 65-34 by the Senate on July 30.
Announcing
the markup session, Chairman Schuster said: “Our nation’s economy depends on a
safe, efficient surface transportation system … Next week, the Committee will
move forward with the policy and authorization provisions of a bill to improve
America’s surface transportation infrastructure, reform programs, refocus those
programs on national priorities, provide more flexibility and certainty for
state and local partners, and welcome innovation.” He neglected to explain how
he proposes to fill the cash gap between shrinking motor fuel tax revenues and
growing repair and replacement needs for roads, bridges, rails and waterways
which move our nation’s citizens and cargo.
