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AND I BELIEVE HIGHER PRICES FOR
CONSUMERS.
I'D URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
"NO" ON THE AMENDMENT.
QUESTION IS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE IS.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
IS THERE
THEIR VOTE?
IF NOT, ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS
ARE 56, THE NAYS ARE 42.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER
REQUIRING 60 VOTES FOR THE
ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT, THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MR. PRESIDENT?
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THERE WILL BE
TWO MINUTES --
MR. PRESIDENT?
MAJORITY LEADER.
COULD WE HAVE ORDER.
THE CHAMBER.
ORDER IN THE CHAMBER, PLEASE.
TAKE YOUR DISCUSSIONS OUTSIDE.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S
4:15.
WE HAVE A MATTER THAT I WILL --
VOICE?
JUST A FEW MINIMUM -- VOICE IN
JUST A FEW MINUTES.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST VOTE UNTIL
TUESDAY, WHEN WE FINISH THIS
BILL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
COOPERATION.
I'VE TALKED TO -- BEFORE ABOUT
HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO HAVE THE
TWO MANAGERS THAT WE HAVE ON
THIS BILL, SENATORS BOXER AND
INHOFE.
THEY'VE DONE A REMARKABLY GOOD
WE HAVE A LOCKED-IN SET OF
AMENDMENTS NOW.
THERE'S NO REASON TO WORK INTO
WEEK.
WE'LL HAVE A GOOD WEEK NEXT WEEK
WEEK.
AND I WISH EVERYONE A GOOD
BREAK.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THERE WILL BE
TWO MINUTES OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED PRIOR TO A VOTE ON THE
MOTION TO HAVE ALL APPLICABLE
BUDGET POINTS OF ORDER.
WE HAVE ORDER.
THE
SENATE WILL BE IN ORDER, PLEASE.
TAKE YOUR DISCUSSIONS OUTSIDE.
TAKE THEM IN THE CLOAKROOM.
ORDER IN THE SENATE.
THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
SHE WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF YOU TO
HEAR THIS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'D
LIKE ORDER BECAUSE THIS -- THIS
IS A VOTE -- IF WE DON'T GET
THIS VOTE, THIS BILL DIES TODAY
SO I REALLY NEED TO HAVE ORDER.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, WE MUST WAIVE THE
BUDGET ACT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
WORKING ON THIS BILL, AND MY
FRIEND FROM TENNESSEE WILL TELL
YOU OTHERWISE.
THIS BILL IS 100% PAID FOR.
THE C.B.O. SCORE IS ACTUALLY
TEN YEARS.
HOW IS IT PAID FOR?
AND I COULD TELL YOU, MY FRIEND,
JIM INHOFE, MADE SURE IT WOULD
BE PAID FOR AND WE AGREED ON IT.
THROUGH THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND,
PLUS THE BIPARTISAN WORK OF THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE FILLED THIS TRUST FUND
TO COVER THIS BILL.
BALANCE.
ALL THE WORK WE DID TODAY HANGS
IN THE BALANCE.
WE NEED 60 VOTES.
SO IF YOU'RE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL, PLEASE VOTE
AYE SO WE CAN CONTINUE OUR WORK
NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I --
LET ME FIRST SAY THAT I AM A
VERY STRONG SUPPORTER OF A
INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE
SHOULD HAVE INTEGRITY AS IT
RELATES TO THIS ISSUE OF
SPENDING.
IF I COULD HAVE ORDER.
PLEASE,
ORDER IN THE SENATE.
LAST AUGUST, THE
WORLD AND THE COUNTRY WATCHED AS
NATION ALMOST CAME TO A
HALT.
AND WE AGREED IN ORDER TO RAISE
A DEBT CEILING THAT WE WOULD
PASS THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT
WHICH PUT STRICT LIMITATIONS ON
SPENDING FOR LAST YEAR AND FOR
THIS YEAR.
WE ARE MAKING A MOCKERY OF WHAT
HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME.
IF WE WAIVE THIS BUDGET CONTROL
ACT POINT OF ORDER THAT I'VE PUT
IN PLACE, BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE
SAID -- AND WE'VE HAD ALL KIND
OF SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE THAT HAVE FOCUSED ON THE
DEFICIT ISSUE IN GOOD FAITH --
BUT WE BASICALLY ARE SAYING WE
CANNOT MAKE IT SEVEN MONTHS
WITHOUT VIOLATING THE BUDGET
CONTROL ACT, WHICH WE PUT IN
PLACE TO CREATE DISCIPLINE IN
THIS BODY.
I URGE A NO VOTE ON WAIVING THIS
MOTION.
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I ASK FOR 30 SECT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I --
I'VE HAD THE RANKINGS OF THE
MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF THIS
BODY MANY TIMES AND HAVE OFTEN
SAID THERE ARE TWO AREAS WHERE
I'M A BIG SPENDER.
ONE IS NATIONAL DEFENSE.
ONE IS INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE DESPERATELY NEED THIS BILL.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT
SO MANY OF MY GOOD FRIENDS --
AND THEY ARE FRIENDS, INCLUDING
THE SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE --
THAT THEY'LL VOTE AS THEY DID
BACK IN 2008 FOR $700 BILLION
FOR A BAILOUT AND THEN SOMETHING
LIKE THIS COMES UP AND -- AND
SOMEHOW THIS IS AN EXCUSE TO
KILL THE BILL.
YOU CAN KILL THE BILL AND WE CAN
GO BACK AND START ALL OVER
AGAIN.
I WISH AND I THINK THAT THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S GOING TO
COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS
GOING TO ALLOW US TO GET THIS
DONE BY THE TIME WE GET IN TO
AND I WOULD URGE MY CONSERVATIVE
FRIENDS PARTICULARLY TO GO AHEAD
AND VOTE FOR A HIGHWAY BILL.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
JUST 30 SECONDS.
EXPIRED.
THE SENATOR ASKED FOR 30
SECONDS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
FACT IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
IT WOULD TAKE TO NOT HAVE A
ORDER IS SO
SMALL THAT WE OUGHT TO JUST
OFFSET DISCRETIONARY CAPS FOR
THIS YEAR, THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE
SPENDING ABOVE THAT FOR THIS
HIGHWAY BILL.
THIS IS LUDICROUS.
THAT WE CANNOT SET PRIORITIES IN
A WAY THAT CAUSES US TO LIVE
WITHIN THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT
AND BREAK IT WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS
OF PASSING IT AND BREAK FAITH
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND I WOULD NOTE --
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST
SUGGEST --
THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE DON'T HAVE
SENATOR THUNE HERE, WHO WAS
DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE FINANCE
UNFORTUNATELY HIS MOTHER DIED
AND HE'S NOT HERE.
AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN
AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND NOT
DELAY THIS BILL.
RIGHT NOW IT'S SET UP SO WE CAN
HAVE A HIGHWAY BILL.
THIS COULD KILL IT.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU FOLKS WILL
TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE AT HOME.
YOU CAN'T DO IT BEFORE THIS BILL
BUT AFTERWARDS YOU MIGHT -- I
MIGHT SUGGEST YOU DO THAT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
NAYS.
THE QUESTION HAS BEEN PUT.
IS THERE A SECOND?
SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THE QUESTION'S ON THE MOTION.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE THERE
ANY SENATORS WISHING TO VOTE IN
THE AFFIRMATIVE OR CHANGE THEIR
VOTE?
IF NOT, ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS
ARE 66, THE NAYS ARE 31.
THREE-FIFTHS OF THE SENATORS
DULY CHOSEN AND SWORN HAVING
VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
MOTION IS AGREED TO AND THE
POINT OF ORDER FAILS.
THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
A SENATOR: ON ROLL CALL VOTE
NUMBER 33, THE WYDEN AMENDMENT,
TO VOTE NO.
IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME.
I ASK THAT THAT BE MADE.
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM MAINE.
MR. PRESIDENT, ON
ROLL CALL VOTE NUMBER 29, I
VOTED AYE.
THEREFORE, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT I BE PERMITTED TO
CHANGE MY VOTE SINCE IT WILL NOT
AFFECT THE OUTCOME.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME JUST
EXPLAIN VERY BRIEFLY THAT I WAS
TOLD THAT THE AMENDMENT HAD BEEN
MODIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE CONCERNS
THAT I HAVE RAISED AND THEN THE
AMENDMENT WAS NOT SO MODIFIED,
SO I WANTED TO PUT IN THAT
EXPLANATION TO EXPLAIN WHY THE
ERROR WAS MADE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM ALASKA.
ON ROLL CALL VOTE 29 I VOTED
AYE.
IT WAS MY INTENTION TO VOTE NO.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT I BE
PERMITTED TO CHANGE THE VOTE
SINCE IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE
OUTCOME AND IT IS FOR EXACTLY
THE SAME REASON THAT SENATOR
COLLINS HAS MENTIONED.
IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING WHEN
COMING TO THE FLOOR THAT THE
MODIFICATION HAD BEEN ACCEPTED.
IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED.
OBJECTION.
CALIFORNIA.
I WANTED TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES.
MOST OF THEM HAVE GONE,
BIJUST -- BUT I JUST FEEL THIS
RECORD REFLECT THE LAST VOTE WE
HAD HAD.
BASICALLY IT WAS A VOTE TO UNDO
EVERYTHING WE WORKED SO ***
ALL DAY.
IT BASICALLY WAS A BACK-DOOR WAY
OF KILLING THE TRANSPORTATION
BILL, A BILL THAT IS FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE.
IT'S CURRENT LEVELS PLUS
INFLATION --, INFLATION,
FULLY PAID FOR.
SENATOR INHOFE AND I AGREED AT
THE OUTSET IF THE E.P.W.
COMMITTEE WE WOULD ONLY SUPPORT
A BILL THAT WAS FULLY PAID FOR.
I'M HONORED WE GOT SO MANY
REPUBLICAN VOTES ON THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THE SENATOR FROM
MICHIGAN HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS
TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BY VOICE
VOTE AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT HE BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT
SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE MAKING
PROGRESS AND THEN HE WOULD YIELD
THE FLOOR TO THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE SENATOR FROM
NEXT ITEM ON THE UNANIMOUS
CONSENT AGREEMENT IS MY
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1818.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING NOW
THAT THIS AMENDMENT CAN BE
ADOPTED BY A VOICE VOTE, THAT
IT'S BEEN CLEARED FOR THAT.
I WILL.
AND I ASK CONCEPT TO SET ASIDE
THE PENDING AMENDMENT TO CALL UP
THAT AMENDMENT NUMBER 1818.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN FOR HIMSELF
AND MR. CONRAD PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1818.
MR. PRESIDENT, LET
ME SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE
ELSE -- IT'S BEEN ON THE LIST
FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT, SO I'LL
JUST LET THE CHAIR RULE ON
THIS, SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS
SOMETHING ELSE.
IF NOT, I WANT TO SPEAK FOR A
FEW MINUTES AFTERWARDS.
OBJECTION.
IS THERE FURTHER DEBATE ON THE
AMENDMENT?
OPPOSED.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
AYES APPEAR TO HAVE IT, THE
AYES DO HAVE IT, MOTION PASSES.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
I ASK THAT THE
MOTION TO,
I ASK THAT THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE
TABLE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD ASK JUST FOR THREE MINUTES
HERE TO VERY, VERY BRIEFLY
EXPLAIN AND I'LL PUT THE REST OF
MY STATEMENT IN THE RECORD.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, UNDER
THE PATRIOT ACT CONGRESS GAVE
THE TREASURY THE POWER TO TAKE A
RANGE OF MEASURES AGAINST
FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
OR JURISDICTIONS THAT IT FINDS
TO BE OF -- QUOTE -- "PRIMARY
MONEY LAUNDERING CONCERN."
THE CONRAD AMENDMENT WOULD
ALLOWED THE TREASURY TO IMPOSE
THE SAME TYPES OF MEASURES ON
THE SAME ENTITIES IF TREASURY
THEM TO BE IMPEDING U.S.
TAX ENFORCEMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN THE
SUBJECT OF A BILL FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS AND IT COMES OUT OF THE
HEARINGS OF THE PERMANENT
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS
WHICH I CHAIR.
AND THOSE INVESTIGATIONS SHOW
THAT EACH YEAR THE UNITED STATES
LOSES LITERALLY TENS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE FROM
PEOPLE USING OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS
TO DODGE THEIR U.S. TAX
OBLIGATIONS INCLUDING THROUGH
HIDDEN ACCOUNTS AT TAX HAVEN
BANKS.
WE ISSUED A LENGTHY BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT IN OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, WE
DETAILED CASE HISTORIES
INVOLVING TAX HAVEN BANKS THAT
HELPED THOUSANDS OF U.S. CLIENTS
DODGE THEIR U.S. TAXES, BANKS
THAT USED A LONG LIST OF SECRECY
TRICKS TO MAKE IT NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR U.S. TAX
AUTHORITIES TO TRACE FUNDS SENT
TO THEM OFF SHORE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ASK THAT
THE BALANCE OF MY STATEMENT BE
INSERTED IF THE RECORD IN FULL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
WANT TO THANK SENATOR CONRAD,
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE AND MANY
OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN SPONSORING
THIS AMENDMENT AND I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
ANOTHER UNANIMOUS CONSENT -- I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
MERKLEY AMENDMENT RELATIVE TO
FARM VEHICLES LISTED IN THE
PREVIOUS ORDER BE CHANGED FROM
1653 TO NUMBER 1814.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
I ASK MY AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK AND REPORTED BY
NUMBER.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1785 AND 1810
BE MADE PENDING EN BLOC.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE CLERK WILL
REPORT BY NUMBER.
THE SENATOR FROM
TENNESSEE MR. CORK PROPOSES
AND 1810.
THE
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT.
I CALL UP
AMENDMENTS NUMBERED 1736 AND
1742 AND ASK THAT THEY BE
CONSIDERED EN BLOC.
OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT AMENDMENTS
BY NUMBERS.
THE SENATOR FROM
OHIO, MR. PORTMAN, PROPOSES
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE READING OF THE
AMENDMENTS BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THESE
AMENDMENTS.
GIVES THE STATES
FREEDOM TO KEEP THEIR GAS TAXES.
FOR DECADES WASHINGTON HAS TAKEN
ITS CUT OFF THE TOP AND ATTACHED
BURDENSOME MANDATES TO THE FUNDS
BEFORE SENDING THEM BACK TO THE
STATES AND IT HASN'T WORKED.
SINCE 2008 THE HIGHWAY TRUST
FUND HAS BEEN BAILED OUT THREE
TIMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO
THE TUNE OF ABOUT $35 BILLION.
AND DURING THAT TIME THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS REQUIRED THAT 10%
OF ALL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
FUNDS BE SPENT ON ENHANCEMENTS
SO-CALLED WHICH INCLUDES
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PLANNING AND
RESEARCH, TRANSPORTATION
MUSEUMS, SCENIC BEAUTIFICATION
ALONG HIGHWAYS AND SO ON.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING OFFICE
HAS FOUND BETWEEN FOUR AND 2008
AT TODAY TIME WHEN OUR BRIDGES
AND ROADS HAVE BEEN IN DISAIR
RE-PAIR AND NEEDED ALL THE HELP
THEY COULD GET THE TRUST FUND
SPENT $78 BILLION NOT RELATED TO
THE SUPPORT OF OUR NATION'S
NETWORK OF HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
WITH THE ECONOMY STRUGGLING WE
NEED TO PROVIDE STATES WITH THE
ABILITY TO MOVE QUICKLY AND
INNOVATIVELY IMPLEMENT
PRIORITIES.
INSTEAD OF A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
SOLUTION FROM WASHINGTON.
OHIO'S GAS TAXES SHOULDN'T BE
WASTED BY COSTLY FEDERAL
MANDATES, REGULATIONS AND
BUREAUCRACIES THAT OHIO DOESN'T
THINK ARE NECESSARY.
RATHER, STATES SHOULD HAVE THE
FREEDOM TO USE THE REVENUE
COLLECTED FROM HIGHWAY USERS
WITHIN THEIR OWN STATE IN THE
WAY THEY SEE FIT TO GET MORE
MONEY INTO INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL GIVE THE
STATES THE FREEDOM THEY NEED TO
DO THAT WHILE ENSURING STATES
MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN
STANDARDS.
WE NEED TO LET STATES GET BACK
ON TRACK.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE I
HEARD ABOUT OVER THE WEEKEND.
THIS COMES FROM JEFF LINKAS,
THE CLINTON COUNTY ENGINEER, AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES ESCALATES
THE COSTS OF PROJECTS.
THERE IS A STREAM CALLED TODD'S
FORK CROSSED BY PRAIRIE ROAD AND
STARBUCK ROAD.
THE SAME FIRM DESIGNED BOTH
BRIDGES, THE BRIDGES ARE THE
SAME LENGTH, BUT THERE'S ONE
MAJOR DIFFERENCE: THE BRIDGE FOR
PRAIRIE ROAD WAS BUILT USING
FEDERAL MONEY WHILE THE BRIDGE
FOR STARBUCK ROAD WAS USING OHIO
FUNDS.
ACCORDING TO JEFF LINKAS THE
FEDERALLY FUNDED BRIDGE COST
STATE-FUNDED BRIDGE.
I HEAR THIS ALL OVER THE STATE
WELL.
IT TOOK MORE TIME, SO IT WAS
MORE EXPENSIVE AND TOOK MORE
TIME, WAS MORE COSTLY IN HE
BOTH RESPECTS.
THE FEDERAL PROJECT COST MORE IN
A LOT OF AREAS INCLUDING THE
FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY, MORE
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, MORE
RIGHT-OF-WAY EXPENSES, MORE
DESIGN AND REVIEW COSTS.
THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN
HIGHER.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT
TAXES.
SINCE THE LAST AUTHORIZATION
BILL IN 2005, THE OUTLAYS HAVE
EXCEEDED THE REVENUES FROM THE
GAS TAX EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK ON A
FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE PATH,
ALLOW STATES FLEXIBILITY TO
MAINTAIN ROADS AND BRIDGES AND
HIGHWAYS.
IT'S AN OPTOUT, NOT A MANDATE.
STATES COULD CHOOSE TO OPT OUT
OR NOT.
THE SAPPED -- THE SECOND
RESPONSIBLE AMENDMENT.
IT LIFTS AN ANTIQUATED MANDATE
THAT DATES BACK TO 1956 AND
WOULD ALLOW STATES THE FREEDOM
TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON
HOW TO MANAGE THEIR REST AREAS
WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FORCES STATES TO PAY TO MAINTAIN
AND IMPROVE.
THE CURRENT APPROACH HAS SET UP
A PATCHWORK OF EXEMPTIONS AND
SPECIAL PERMITS THAT ALLOW SOME
STATES TO COMMERCIALIZE REST
AREAS WHILE PROHIBITING OTHER
STATES FROM DOING THE SAME.
UNDER THIS STATES CAN
COMMERCIALIZE THE REST AREAS.
AT A TIME WHEN AMERICA'S CORE
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
OUR HIGHWAY, ROADS AND BRIDGES
NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET
THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION SPENDS AN
ESTIMATED $50 MILLION A YEAR ON
UPKEEP IN OHIO ALONE.
THE HIGH COST OF IMPROVING THESE
REST AREAS IS HAND CUFFING THE
STATES TO SPEND MONEY ON ROADS
AND BRIDGES.
THIS IS A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE
PRO-TAXPAYER AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD HELP STATES LIKE OHIO
RECOVER LOSSES, POSSIBLY BREAK
EVEN OR MAYBE EVEN ADD REVENUE
BY ALLOWING RESTAURANTS,
CONVENIENCE STORES OR OTHER
ENTITIES TO LEASE SPACES AT REST
AREAS.
IT'S A COMMONSENSE APPROACH
SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS.
AND BY A LOT OF PRIVATE SECTOR
AS WELL.
THIS AMENDMENT IS A WAY TO GIVE
CORE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
MORE FUNDING WHILE ENACTING A
PROPOSAL THAT ACTUALLY HELPS THE
STATES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE
IN OHIO ALONE IF YOU TAKE OUT
50 MILLION BUCKS A YEAR FOR REST
AREAS AND CALCULATE OVER 20
YEARS THAT'S ONE BILLION DOLLARS
THAT COULD GO INTO HIGHWAY
THIS DOES NOT MANDATE STATES TO
COMMERCIALIZE REST AREAS.
OR TO COMMERCIALIZE IN ANY
SPECIFIC WAY.
IT LEASE IT UP TO THE STATES.
IT GIVES THE STATES THE
FLEXIBILITY THEY WANT TO MAKE
THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON HOW TO
BEST USE THOSE REST AREAS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN LIFTING TO LIFT THIS MANDATE
AND GIVE THE STATES THE FREEDOM
TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNDERUSED
AND EXPENSIVE REST AREAS.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM INDIANA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SET ASIDE THE PENDING
AMENDMENT AND CALL UP AMENDMENT
NUMBER 1779 ON BEHALF OF SENATOR
ALEXANDER AND AMENDMENTS 1589
AND 1556 ON BEHALF OF SENATOR
DeMINT EN BLOC.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE CLERK WILL
REPORT AMENDMENTS.
-- THE AMENDMENTS.
THE SENATOR FROM
INDIANA MR. COATS FOR
MR. ALEXANDER PROPOSES AMENDMENT
NUMBER 1779.
AND FOR MR. DeMINT PROPOSES EN
BLOC AMENDMENTS 1589 AND 1756.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM INDIANA.
I CALL UP MY
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1517 WHICH IS
AT THE DESK AND ASK IT BE
REPORTED BY NUMBER.
WITHOUT
REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
INDIANA MR. COATS PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1517.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
AMENDMENT 1517 IS MAJOR
SIGNIFICANCE TO MY HOME STATE OF
INDIANA AS WELL AS A MAJORITY OF
THE STATES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH
THE FACT WHEN THEY PULL UP TO
THE GAS PUMP, THEY ARE NOT ONLY
PAYING FOR THE COST OF GAS,
ARE PAYING THE TAX ON THE
COST OF THAT GAS.
THE FEDERAL TAX PUMPED INTO THE
TANK IS SENT INTO WASHINGTON AND
PUT INTO A SO-CALLED FEDERAL GAS
TAX FUND TRUST.
THE WORD TRUST IS REALLY
SOMEWHAT OF A MISGNOMER BECAUSE
LIKE SO MANY TRUSTS WE CREATE,
IT DOESN'T LIVE UP TO ITS NAME.
TRUST MEANS THAT IT'S
SAFEGUARDED, NO ONE ELSE CAN
TOUCH IT, NO ONE ELSE CAN USE
IT.
THE TRUST FUND WAS DESIGNED TO
SCHECT TAXES FROM THE SALE OF
GASOLINE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
AND THEN UNDER A PROVISION
RETURN THAT TAX BACK TO THE
STATE.
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE MAJORITY
OF OUR STATES IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE NOT GETTING BACK WHAT THEY
PUT IN.
AND SO THIS AMENDMENT IS
DESIGNED TO CORRECT THAT FLAW OR
AT LEAST THAT CURRENT
PROVISION, IN TERMS OF THE WAY
THAT TRUST FUND IS OPERATED.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM OHIO, SENATOR
PORTMAN AANNOUNCED AN AMENDMENT
THAT I THINK MAKES A GREAT DEAL
OF SENSE AND I INTEND TO SUPPORT
THAT AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A
SIMILAR AMENDMENT EXCEPT THAT
WHAT THIS REQUIRES IS THAT
WHATEVER A STATE PUTS INTO THE
TRUST FUND, IT RECEIVES AT
LEAST AN EQUAL AMOUNT BACK. MY STATE, LIKE
MANY STATES ACROSS THE NATION,
DRAWS THE SHORT END OF THE STICK
IN TERMS OF GETTING OUR MONEY
AND IT TURNS A TRUST FUND INTO A
DISTRIBUTION FUND BASED UPON THE
OUTDATED FORMULA AND
CONTINUATION OF THE BROKEN
EARMARKING PROCESS.
LET ME EXPLAIN THAT.
I'VE SAID THAT CITIZENS EXPECT
THAT WHEN THEY FILL UP THEIR CAR
AND PAY THEIR FEDERAL TAX,
THEY'LL SEE IT COMING BACK.
BUT IN REALITY, MANY STATES, AS
I'VE SAID, RECEIVE LESS THAN
THEY PUT IN.
INTERESTING PART OF ALL THIS IS
THERE IS A FORMULA CREATED BY
WHICH AN AVERAGE OF THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY SPENT BY STATES IS
CALCULATED, AND STATES ARE
REWARDED ON THE BASIS -- AND THE
MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED ON THE
BASIS OF HOW THAT HISTORICAL
AVERAGE IS CALCULATED.
SO STATES THAT HAVE HAD VERY
EFFICIENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
CREATING EARMARKS AND POURING
MORE MONEY INTO THEIR STATE BY
EARMARKING END UP WITH A HIGHER
HISTORICAL AVERAGE.
AS A RESULT, THOSE STATES
BENEFIT NOW FROM THE
DISTRIBUTION FROM THE TRUST FUND
TO A GREATER DEGREE, IN FACT,
THEY'RE CALLED THE DONEE STATES
BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE MORE THAN
WHAT IS PUT IN FROM THE DONOR
THOSE STATES THAT HAVE TAKEN
MORE RESPONSIBLE FISCAL MEASURES
IN TERMS OF HOW THEY SPEND THEIR
MONEY AND HOW THEY SPEND THE
TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, LIKE THE
STATE OF INDIANA, END UP BEING
SHORTCHANGED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE
HAVE BEEN MORE PRUDENT IN TERMS
OF HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.
WE HAVEN'T POURED IN THE
HISTORICAL AVERAGE.
AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE END UP
BEING A DONOR STATE.
MORE MONEY GOING OUT THAN IS
COMING BACK IN.
THE SENATE HAS RECENTLY PASSED
LEGISLATION TO END THE PRACTICE
OF EARMARKING, AND I THINK
THAT'S A VERY POSITIVE STEP
BUT HERE WE NOW HAVE A FEDERAL
PROGRAM THAT IN A SENSE IS
EARMARKING.
SO IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT
ELIMINATING EARMARKING, WE'RE
ALSO GOING TO NEED TO FIX THE
FORMULAS USED IN CURRENT
PROGRAMS TO END THAT PRACTICE IN
TERMS OF REWARDING STATES MORE
MONEY THAN THEY DESERVE.
THIS AMENDMENT FIXES THIS
INEQUITY AND RESTORES THE TRUST
FUND TO ITS ORIGINAL INTENT TO
GIVE TAXPAYERS MONEY BACK TO
THEM IN THE AMOUNT THAT THEY
UNDER MY AMENDMENT, EACH STATE
WILL GET BACK WHAT IT PUTS IN
OUT OF THE TOTAL AVAILABLE
FUNDS.
IT'S A FAIRNESS ISSUE AND A
MEANS BY WHICH WE CAN RESTORE
THE CONFIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT A TRUST FUND IS
TRULY A TRUST FUND.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL SEND A
MESSAGE THAT CONGRESS IS TRULY
SERIOUS ABOUT MANAGING CULTURE
CHANGE IN WASHINGTON.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
REJECTED EARMARKING AND IT WOULD
BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THIS
INSTITUTION TO REWARD THAT
PRACTICE UNDER THIS HIGHWAY
BILL.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT AMENDMENT
THAT TAKES A STAND FOR FAIRNESS
AND FISCAL INTEGRITY.
IT WILL BE BROUGHT UP ON
TUESDAY.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE I AM
IN THE QUEUE, BUT I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THIS AND SUPPORT THIS BOTH FROM
A STANDPOINT OF FAIRNESS, WHICH
GIVES BACK EVERY STATE AND EVERY
TAXPAYER THE MONEY THEY PUT INTO
THE TRUST FUND ON A FAIR BASIS
AND ON AN EQUAL BASIS IN TERMS
OF MONEY IN AND MONEY OUT, AS
WELL AS ENDS THE PRACTICE OF --
CONTINUES THE PROCESS OF ENDING
THE PRACTICE OF EARMARKS WHICH
BENEFITS SOME STATES AND NOT
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN FISCALLY
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT I YIELD
THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP
AMENDMENT 1540 WHICH IS AT THE
DESK AND ASK THAT IT BE REPORTED
BY NUMBER.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT BY NUMBER.
THE SENATOR FROM
MISSOURI, MR. BLUNT, FOR HIMSELF
AND MR. CASE KWRAOERBGS PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT -- CASEY, PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1540.
I THANK THE CLERK
FOR REPORTING.
THIS AMENDMENT DEALS WITH THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF OFF-SYSTEM
THESE ARE BRIDGES THAT AREN'T
PART OF THE STATE SYSTEM, AREN'T
PART OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM BUT
NORMALLY ARE RUN BY COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS.
OUR STATES, LIKE MOST OF THE
STATES NEAR EAST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, WE HAVE LOTS
OF COUNTIES.
WE HAVE 115.
THEY HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF
BRIDGES.
AND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW
HAVE BENEFITED FROM 15% OF THE
BRIDGE FUNDS THAT GO TO STATES.
I THINK MOST OF US WOULD, IF WE
MEET WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR COUNTY
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THEIR HIGHWAY
CONCERNS, THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE
THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD TALKED
ABOUT.
MR. CASEY, FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
AND I HAVE INTRODUCED THIS