Editorial: Open Minds on Funding

The Obama administration’s attention for a second straight week remained focused on some of the issues most critical to the trucking industry.

Just days after saying he would seek an additional set of carbon-dioxide emissions and fuel-economy improvements for trucks, he announced plans to send a $302 billion, four-year transportation spending plan to Congress as part of his fiscal 2015 budget.

He called on Congress to act, saying that “roads and bridges should not be a partisan issue.”

The White House said part of the funding will come from “$150 billion in one-time transition revenue from pro-growth business tax reform.” The plan would also emphasize the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER grants, which have proved successful during the past five years.

As Obama spoke in St. Paul, Minn., Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, unveiled a plan to boost the Highway Trust Fund through a tax reform plan that would lower rates and eliminate deductions and credits.

Any and all discussion about the dire need for highway investment is a good thing. Unfortunately, it appears with each passing week the chance of an increase in federal fuel taxes is slimmer and slimmer.

American Trucking Associations is among the many business groups that support an increase in fuel taxes — which have been stagnant for more than 20 years — to fund infrastructure.

Still, ATA President Bill Graves sounded a hopeful note from last week’s events.

“It is heartening that both President Obama and Chairman Camp recognize the critical need for revenue to finance infrastructure improvements,” Graves said. “While a sustainable source of long-term funding would be preferable, given the apparent reluctance to embrace traditional, user-funded revenue streams, ATA is prepared to keep an open mind when looking at financing options for the Highway Trust Fund.”

A similar tone was sounded by several highway and transportation groups last week.

With all that said, a cautious dose of reality came from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), head of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee.

While calling Obama’s transportation funding plan “exciting and visionary,” she cast doubts it could pass through both houses of Congress this year.

But with more funding ideas being put forth from more elected officials, and a general consensus that something must be done this time around, it is best to hope, for now, that Boxer’s prediction will not come true.