Highway Fund Shortfall May Halt Road Projects

I got this from a friend today:

"I noticed an article the other day that says the Federal Highway fund is only a month from running out of money because Americans are driving less. It would likely be already broke if McSame had his gas tax holiday this summer. As much as the construction on I-75 drives me crazy, I think most Americans want roads and bridges repaired. Once again McSame was wrong, Obama was right. I am surprised the Obama campaign has not articulated on this clear failure of McSame's econonomic policies. I think it would resonate. Who was pandering, and who was acting responsible?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/06highway.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1221051969-tnqnq/XR1VBNAdqIfSzo1A&oref=slogin

bridges and roads.

Spending it OVER THERE, so they don't have to SPEND IT OVER HERE.

90 people out of work because there is no demand for cement in the midwest. with all the roads and bridges that need to be replaced and the amount of new workers that could be hired....wait.. i forgot ..there`s a war on terror.

a major road widening project here. It happens to be a project that was never fully funded. A project that really needs to be done - it is the second stage of an earlier road widening project on a major highway thoroughfare. It is a project that has been marked by numerous planning and design conflicts between state and local officials.

We also have a ballot issue in November to increase property taxes to pay for road improvements - improvements that are necessitated by many years of poor maintenance and repair practices. I intend to vote against it. Why? First, there is adequate funding for roads but those monies are being diverted for other purposes. The funding diversions have been acknowledged and the current level of "road" funding is consistent with most other metropolitan areas. Why should I believe 'em when they say these funds will not be diverted? I don't. Second, I do not think the source of the funding is equitable. There is a relatively large segment of the population that drives but does not own real property and will be exempted from sharing the multi billion dollar costs to be recouped over the next five years. Perhaps an additional temporary tax should be assessed on car tags.