Highway Trust Fund Reauthorization Tussles Continue

[James G. McConnell]

Emblematic of the difficulties facing any timely reauthorization of the federal highway trust fund, Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller and Commerce Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lautenberg have introduced a bill calling for yearly reductions in per capita auto miles driven, reduction of tailpipe CO2 emissions 40% by 2030, and increasing off highway freight by 10% by 2020. American Trucking Association Senior Vice President Tim Lynch responded that "A simple Act of Congress cannot overturn the entire United States distribution and supply chain network that depends on the trucking industry to move 70% of the nation's freight." Fuel efficiency by rail and water would mean job losses for truck drivers.

Meanwhile, over in the House, several Congressmen have argued that including support for pet projects in the highway trust fund reauthorization bill does not violate their pledge to abstain from earmarks. Unlike typical annual appropriations bills, the highway reauthorization legislation comes up for consideration only every fifth year, increasing the pressure on Congressmen to bring home the bacon.