Roadwork OK'd: House approves $100 million for Utah

WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday passed an authorization of federal highway, public transportation, highway safety and motor carrier safety programs for six years — a bill that includes more than $100 million for specific Utah projects.

"We've been able to authorize some good projects," said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah. "And I'm glad they're dispersed throughout both small and large communities in our area. Each project helps in its own way to improve the lives of Utahns and invigorates our local economies."

Provided within the bill was a provision that allows each member of Congress to include high-priority projects but within a given allowance. Utah House members worked with local communities in establishing those priorities.

Nationally, these projects, approaching 4,000 in number and $11 billion in value, are cited by budget hawks as prime examples of "pork barrel" spending by Congress.

The total price tag of the reauthorization is $284 billion, which is substantially less than transportation advocates had wanted.

The White House, in a statement Wednesday, threatened to veto the bill if Congress exceeds the $284 billion figure. And it issued a second veto threat over a provision that would require Congress to reopen the act — and seek more money — if it fails by 2009 to change how federal funds are distributed among the states.

The last six-year highway bill, funded at $218 billion, expired in September 2003. But it has been kept alive through short-term extensions because the White House rejected any plan that would raise taxes or add to the federal deficit.

While it might sound like political pork for incumbents, the bill has been highly sought after by states and local governments since the last authorization expired 18 months ago. State and industry officials recently met in the nation's capital to urge Congress to act quickly or another construction season would be lost.

"We have to do something about our nation's transportation infrastructure," said Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah. "Annually, congestion costs American drivers $67 billion in lost productivity and wasted motor fuel. More than 30 percent of our major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and 29 percent of our bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. "

"Our country's roadways and rails are the lifeblood of our economy and this bill is six years overdue," Cannon added.

"While I would have liked the total appropriations for infrastructure to be higher, I think the position of Utah and my district in this bill has improved," Bishop said. "I'm glad that we could forward a bill that at least starts the planning process for future construction and improvements."