‘Devolution’ Legislation in Congress Would Hurt Country’s Transportation Network, ATA’s Spear Says
SAN DIEGO — Congressional efforts to limit the federal government’s involvement in large-scale infrastructure projects would fracture the country’s vast and intricate transportation network, said Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations’ chief of legislative affairs.
A small group of lawmakers affiliated with the conservative tea party on Capitol Hill are looking to advance so-called “devolution” legislation. The measure is designed to upgrade states’ responsibilities over transportation planning and funding while minimizing the federal government’s authorities.
Several conservative groups, led by Heritage Action, back “devolution,” and they’re working to have the measure be debated after the midterm elections.
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But Spear said the federation is working to prevent those efforts from advancing.
“It’s not only passing the buck, it’s passing it to someone else to raise the buck. So states would have onus to raise the revenue. And I think you’d be looking at a patchwork of solutions to do it,” Spear told trucking executives at the federation’s Management Conference & Exhibition here on Oct. 6.
Last month, ATA and 16 other industry groups urged congressional leaders to reject any “devolution” efforts, referring specifically to legislation introduced last year by Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). Their bill would significantly reduce funding for the federal Highway Trust Fund within five years.
“Some states would have to raise their taxes by more than 30 cents” if the “devolution” measure is enacted into law, ATA and the other groups wrote.
