A common road to funding the arteries of commerce is needed

The gridlock some of us experience in our daily commute is merely a microcosm of the gridlock that seems to be paralyzing our government. Lawmakers need to come to common ground on the Federal transportation bill that has already been temporarily extended nine times.

Meanwhile, in Oregon and Minnesota, a tax on mileage has been enacted, which may solve the funding problem, but nobody really seems to think it is the appropriate solution to the problem.

The states have all been strapped since the economic bubble burst and all the bonds and projects based on the perpetual growth of tax revenues were quickly shortchanged.

Add to that the effects of moving to more fuel efficient vehicles – the revenues from the tax on gasoline are no longer meeting the requirements of state road maintenance. Consequently, Washington and Nevada are also considering such legislation.

So quickly did revenues fall, many states cut employees and services to the bone, while general funds were depleted and some are still facing shortfalls that negatively impact keeping basic services like schools, fire stations and police operating.

In a move that spurred a recall movement, the Governor Walker of Wisconsin revoked collective bargaining for state employees, simply because the state could no longer afford to pay them their current wage, let alone cope with raises or a worker walkout. It would seem the people of Wisconsin accepted this assessment as they refused to remove him from office.

According to Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, our republic has some adverse aspects built into the system, including a tendency towards the majority’s tyranny over acceptable thought, a preoccupation with the material world and a consequent isolation and alienation of individuals. He predicted the current violence and vehemence of party spirit and how the prejudices of the ignorant could shout down the judgment of the wise.

In Maine, the roads are begging for repair funds and money for the maintenance of bridges. The state legislature’s Transportation Committee has asked for help from the Maine General Fund, but the Appropriations Committee is not fond of that idea.

“I think it may have been mission impossible in the previous administration,” Mal Leary of the Bangor Daily News quoted Rep. Rich Cebra, (R-Naples), House co-chairman of the Transportation Committee as stating. “But I think the priorities of the state of Maine, of state government, will be different than they have been in the last 16 years.”

He went on to say the problem would just grow worse without action and that the state could no longer rely on the gas taxes to fund road maintenance.

“I have a bill in that would shift the sales tax on cars and parts to the highway fund,” Rep. Cebra said. “No, that won’t solve the problem, but it is a start.”

Interestingly, gasoline taxes vary widely from state to state. From the lowest state gasoline taxes in Georgia (7.5%) and Alaska (8%), they range up to the top charges of North Carolina (35.25%) and Washington (37.5%). (source Federal Highway Administration)

In Michigan, Dave Alexander reported on Mlive.com that the congressional battle is about earmarks in the eyes of U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga. The Federal transportation bill determines funding for road projects, but also involves critical maintenance of harbor maintenance projects. Shipping on the Great Lakes is an important part of state commerce.

According to Rep. Huizenga, the previous transportation bill included 6,700 specially funded tagalongs that included what he termed, “a bridge to nowhere (in Alaska) and a beehive museum (in Ohio).”

To some extent the battle over earmarks is generational, with old school legislators insisting on pork barrel projects and newer members opposing such largess.

“It’s a new day,” Huizenga said regarding the House’s rules forbidding earmarks. “It has been a challenge to work with the Senate. They are reluctant to let go of the old ways.”

Another sign of the problem comes in the fact that the $6 billion to $7 billion Harbor Maintenance Fund has been raided to cover the general budget deficit and redirected funds meant for annual dredging projects in the Great Lakes.

One of the most contentious aspects of the struggle is the Republican support of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, touted for the jobs it will create and its downward pressure on gas prices.

Critics counter the jobs it creates are only temporary in nature and it would ultimately result in upward pressure on gas prices. It also poses a threat to natural aquifers our agriculture depends upon, violates treaties the U.S. signed with the Sioux Nation, and takes the public on a wild ride from which only the Canadian owners of the crude tar sands and the associated refineries in Texas will see any part of the gravy train.

“During a press conference call on May 21, experts speaking on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said American drivers would face higher gas prices if the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline stretching from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico is built,” according to Vincent Shilling writing on indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

Shilling quotes Anthony Swift, author of the NRDC’s report as stating, “The pipeline’s proponents say it’s the solution to high gas prices. The truth is exactly the opposite – the pipeline would raise gas prices. This is one of the most misunderstood issues surrounding this misguided Canadian project.”

According to Swift Midwestern refineries get 22 gallons of gasoline out of a 55-gallon barrel of crude. Contrastingly Gulf Coast refineries produce only 17 gallons from a barrel – the difference adds up to an estimated 1.2 billion gallons of fuel annually.

The article also quotes Ian Goodman of The Goodman Group, an economic researcher and co-author of the report as adding, “Crude prices in the U.S. Midcontinent are now substantially below prices on the Gulf Coast (based on the global oil market). In effect, the U.S. Midcontinent is getting a discount, because it is now close to the source,” he said.

According to Goodman, the purpose of the pipeline is not to lower the price Americans pay for gas, but to increase Canadian profits by selling diesel on the global market, thanks to Texan refineries close to Gulf ports.

So smart businessmen that they are, they’ve been seeking the support of our government to bypass environmental concerns, treaty obligations and other red tape so the fats cats can get even fatter.

Then the American public will be repaid for selling out our environment by paying a higher price at the pump.

Has everyone forgotten the BP Gulf Oil Spill so soon?

Selling American crude on the global market is a good thing, but will we hand over a despoiled world to coming generations for the sake of a few temporary jobs and a chance to let the rich get richer at higher costs to us?

That said, we leave you with another interesting quote from Democracy in America, addressed to our Congressional leaders that reads:
“I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all. – Alexis de Tocqueville

Disclaimer: This story is individual opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of Torque News.

Image source: US Department of State