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$50 Billion to begin the projects
Blog 4 Truckers Staff
Saying "There are no Republican or Democratic runways. There are no Republican or Democratic roads. There are no Republican or Democratic bridges," the DOT secretary predicted a bill to set money in place for funding infrastructure repair and replacement would be signed by August. August is when Congress recesses for its annual ‘summer vacation.’
Ray LaHood has stressed the building projects would not only improve transportation, but would provide good jobs as the recession slowly weakens its stranglehold on the financial health of the country.
The new proposal is a six-year plan to re-authorize surface transportation improvements and new structures at airports, interstates and bridges. The old bill, which expired September 30, 2009, has been extended in a patchwork series of extensions since its demise.
LaHood spoke at the annual SMC3 annual winter meeting in Atlanta earlier this year. The Transportation Secretary also said that the current administration isn’t interested in raising federal fuel taxes at this time, feeling the higher costs would be another negative during continuing high unemployment and unpredictable economic movements.
The federal fuels tax has not seen an increase since 1993.
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