Rendell, co-chairman of Building America’s Future, met with House and Senate aides on Dec. 2 to address a two-year transportation bill that would generate $100 billion in infrastructure spending. A long-term bill would follow the front-loaded option, and Rendell’s idea involves allowing federal gas taxes to accumulate in the Highway Trust Fund while general taxpayer contributions would support national transport programs. Congressional Democrats appear to be more open to the idea of a front-loaded bill.
President Barack Obama actually factored into the discussion during the White House jobs summit on Dec. 3. According to Streetsblog Capitol Hill, he told a group of 21 infrastructure professionals that “everybody in this administration acknowledges the need for infrastructure investment,” and that “there is nothing I’d rather do in terms of long-term economic growth.”
Obama again stressed the need of creating a National Infrastructure Bank, which received support from the 21 infrastructure representatives at the summit.
According to Streetsblog, Washington State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond also called for the expansion of the TIGER program, which is providing $1.5 billion in road and bridge building grants.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), working with House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, also is supporting a $100 billion transportation bill over two years. At the center of the plan is the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank, and Oberstar still favors an increase in the federal gas tax.
However, the White House, along with Senate leaders, has taken that measure off the table, citing the recession.
Oberstar’s plan also looks at other user fees.
