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How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 02:51:08 2014

fiogf49gjkf0d
The Fiscal Times
July 21, 2014

The Department of Transportation’s top chief is accusing lawmakers of “killing our transportation system slowly” as Congress scrambles to approve a short-term solution to keep the nation’s highways from going broke.

The Highway Trust Fund is on the brink of insolvency. If lawmakers can’t cut a deal before August 1, nearly 112,000 roadway projects and 5,600 transit projects will be delayed and about 700,000 construction jobs will be lost next year, the Obama administration has warned.

Related: Fix Infrastructure Now, or Apologize for It Forever

The Senate is expected to vote on highway funding proposals this week, including an $11 billion measure the House approved last week that would keep the fund solvent through May 2015. That measure was authored by Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI). They will also consider a similar bill introduced in the Senate.

But even if the legislation passes, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx warns that it won’t be time to pop the champagne just yet.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington on Monday, Foxx emphasized the need for lawmakers to pass a long-term reform bill instead of just routinely patching up the Highway Trust Fund. Right now, the fund finances more than $50 billion a year in major highway, bridge and transit projects. But revenue from the gas and diesel fuel taxes hasn’t kept pace with highway project expenditures, forcing the government to shift money from other areas into the fund.

“Congress is running out of seat cushions to find money to patch highways,” Foxx said. “Come May 2015, we’ll be right back here again.”

He diagnosed the nation’s infrastructure with “chronic underinvestment” and said, “We need a transportation reset and it’s got to be big.”

Related: Americans Face a Bumpy Road As Highway Bill Stalls

The administration early this year proposed a $302 billion transportation funding bill that would be paid for by closing tax loopholes, though any plan that involves tax reform is not likely any time soon with a divided Congress.“This ought to be easy. And when you talk to members of Congress, the argument is we can’t do it because we can’t,” Foxx said. “The idea that Congress can’t pass a forward thinking transportation bill is one of the biggest self-fulfilling prophecies. And it is killing our transportation system slowly.”

On Capitol Hill, the consensus seems to be similar. Most say a long-term solution is ideal, but neither side can agree on pay-fors or other amendments. Congress hasn’t passed a transportation spending bill that has lasted longer than two years since 2005.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced a plan that would fund the highways through December with the intention of forcing Congress to pass a long-term bill during the lame-duck session. But some lawmakers argue that Congress won’t approve a long-term bill during that time period. House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) warned against “putting all your eggs in a lame-duck basket,” Politico reported.

If Congress continues to pass only stopgap measures, Foxx warned, there will be more problems down the road, since spending time on temporary plans “delays finding a permanent funding solution.”

- See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/07/21/How-Congress-Killing-Our-Transportation-System#sthash.MmJDhJ47.dpuf

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:22:37 2014, in response to How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 02:51:08 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
The republicans are our very own Al Qaeda, hell bent on trashing America so their friends can pocket the salvage value. :(

"Fuck America" is the battle cry of the GOP. :(

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 04:39:33 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:22:37 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
You absolutely amaze me.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:45:33 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 04:39:33 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Show me that I'm wrong. The court decisions today pretty much confirmed that anybody who isn't a "job creator" has been marked to be eliminated.

Does "love America" mean let people die because they can't get medicals? Does "love America" mean putting more people out of work and let America crumble because they're not willing to pay to FIX anything? Show me I'm wrong.

All the GOP is doing is selling off America by the pound, and fuck everybody else. Show me that I'm wrong. All I see is a bunch of greedy bastards who don't give a fuck about anybody but THEMSELVES. Here in America, we used to take care of one another and if something needed to get fixed, we'd roll up our sleeves and DO it. Even if we had to chip in some money to make it happen. That's how we won WWII. :(

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 04:52:24 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:45:33 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Getting belligerent on me huh?

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:55:21 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 04:52:24 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
I think the word you might be looking for is "uppity" ... :)

The continuing "fuck the poor" with the GOP going after Obamacare is pissing me off. Come up with something BETTER or the GOP is just Satanic. If they don't like what's there, then come up with an IMPROVEMENT. Otherwise, all they're proposing is a modern day Auschwitz for America, and I won't stand for that. The insanity is just getting to be too much.

Wanna die the next time you drive over a bridge? Thank the GOP. I'd rather pay some more to help rebuild America but all your "friends" are doing is ripping it apart. And for what?


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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 05:02:07 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:55:21 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Damn! You must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Well I'm still in bed, I'm going back to sleep. Some days you are cool, want to be helpful, other times like now, you act arrogant. Are you bi-polar?

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 05:10:08 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 05:02:07 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Nope ... ain't slept yet but am about to.

But yeah, I'm really pissed off over the latest GOP crap. Wonder why I compare them to ISIS in IRaq? Lemme see now.

Impose RELIGION on their subjects ... check.
Steal from the poor ... check.
Castigate anyone who doesn't adopt THEIR faith? Check.

Maybe the GOP can repent, but I seriously worry about what kind of "god" they're worshipping. Wish I could tell you the real motivation beyond my pissoff, but I can't right now. I *really* want to ...

But leave it for now as "fuck the GOP" ... it's time for a Crusade.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Jul 23 09:11:31 2014, in response to How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 02:51:08 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
The Highway Trust Fund is on the brink of insolvency. If lawmakers can’t cut a deal before August 1 . . .

No, that's not why it's insolvent. It's yet another federal Ponzi scheme.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 10:03:46 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Jul 23 09:11:31 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Not that I am disagreeing, but can you explain it?

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 10:05:25 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 05:10:08 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Feeling any better now? Or do you still want to vent?

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 10:25:52 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:22:37 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
iawtp

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(1206415)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 10:43:23 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 10:25:52 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
of course you do.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 10:44:24 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 10:43:23 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
he told the truth
especially the republicans they are killing america

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 11:11:04 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 10:44:24 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
America will never die. Sorry to dissapoint you.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 11:14:07 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 10:44:24 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
America will never die. Sorry to dissapoint you.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 11:29:46 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 11:14:07 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
wanna bet ? the republicans are killing it

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Jul 23 11:41:33 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 10:03:46 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Take a look here. The main paragraphs are these ones:

Most of the excise taxes credited to the HTF are not collected by the Federal government directly from the consumer. They are, instead, paid to the Internal Revenue Service by the producer or importer of the taxable product (except in the cases of the tax on trucks and trailers, which is paid by the retailer, and the heavy vehicle use tax, which is paid by the heavy vehicle owner). As a result, most of the Federal fuel taxes come from a handful of States, those where major oil companies are headquartered, and most tire taxes are paid from Ohio, the home of the U.S. tire industry. Of course, these taxes become part of the price of the product and are ultimately paid by the highway user.

User taxes are deposited in the General Fund of the Treasury and the amounts equivalent to these taxes are then transferred on paper to the HTF. Transfers are made at least monthly on the basis of estimates by the Secretary of the Treasury and later adjusted on the basis of actual tax receipts. Amounts in the HTF in excess of current expenditure requirements are invested in public debt securities. Until October 1, 1998, the securities were interest-bearing and interest from the securities was credited to the fund. Since that time, the HTF balance has been invested in non-interest-bearing securities. . . .
Too many layers, and the money gets mixed in with the general fund. They can say that they collected any amount in that case.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Spider-Pig on Wed Jul 23 11:42:28 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 11:11:04 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Spider-Pig on Wed Jul 23 11:46:31 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 11:14:07 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Valar morghulis

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 12:14:59 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by Spider-Pig on Wed Jul 23 11:42:28 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
I hope so.

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 13:34:30 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jul 23 11:11:04 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
that was not my point the republicans are killing america !!

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 17:45:55 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 10:05:25 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
The following was pre-recorded at an earlier time:

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. :)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by salaamallah@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 23 17:56:43 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 17:45:55 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
lol !
iawtp

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(1206843)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Jul 23 23:24:27 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:55:21 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
what do you expect from a group of LIBERTARIANS,who think all about themselves,and fuck the "other man"?

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(1206844)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Jul 23 23:26:34 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 04:22:37 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
THERE YOU GO!

Love to see you "unwind"..use it embrace it..then move on..!

YES!

TELL THE TRUTH about these rat bastards..!

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 23:31:20 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by Edwards! on Wed Jul 23 23:24:27 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
It's certainly going to help to get out the vote with all the ongoing shens ... even around here.

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(1206846)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Jul 23 23:32:00 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by Edwards! on Wed Jul 23 23:26:34 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
One of these days, I'll tell you all about it offline and you'll know why. :(

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(1207098)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by WillD on Fri Jul 25 02:32:32 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Jul 23 12:14:59 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Let me guess, you support Euron Greyjoy?

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(1207106)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by chicagomotorman on Fri Jul 25 06:09:45 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by WillD on Fri Jul 25 02:32:32 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Who?

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by WillD on Fri Jul 25 15:33:46 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by chicagomotorman on Fri Jul 25 06:09:45 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Ah, a Victarion man then. Or are holding out for Asha?

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Fri Jul 25 15:38:10 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by WillD on Fri Jul 25 15:33:46 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
I have no idea what you're talking about.

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(1207377)

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Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’

Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Jul 25 19:53:31 2014, in response to Re: How Congress Is ‘Killing Our Transportation System’, posted by WillD on Fri Jul 25 15:33:46 2014.

fiogf49gjkf0d
I wonder what he thinks of the resettlement of the Wildlings in the Gift by Lord Commander Snow. I'm sure he's with Bowen Marsh.

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