Despite pressure following the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, President Bush will not agree to raise gas taxes to pay for highway improvements. Officials in many states – including Pennsylvania, where I now live – have vowed to inspect and repair bridges nonetheless (Pennsylvania has one of the highest concentrations of road bridges in the country). And in my mom’s home state, North Carolina, where I am visiting, they are discussing the conditions of bridges, labeling one of the most traveled merely “fair” in condition.
But let’s face it, the highway system already receives billions and billions of federal dollars each year. Will throwing more money at the problem make it go away?
With all of that in mind, today’s Fix the Tax Code Friday question is:
Should the federal government provide more dollars to the individual states through an increase in the gas tax for purposes of inspecting and repairing bridges?
Well, somebody has to “throw money” to fix the bridges, if they need fixing. Are you saying it should all be handled locally?
Oh no, that’s not what I’m saying.
In this country, we spend A LOT of money on highways and roads. I’m just saying that we should perhaps look at where that money is going – and how it’s being spent – before we just add more dollars.
I just returned from NC. Have you driven through VA on 95 lately? It is – and has been – one long construction zone. There’s no doubt that a substantial portion of that comes from federal dollars, probably on the heels of some senator begging for money for his constituents. I just don’t want to continue to pay money to fix other people’s roads without someone taking a hard look at the budget.
I just took a look at the figures. The highway budget is approaching $40 billion this year – up almost $10 billion since 2004. That’s insane.
No, they should spend the money they already receive for repairs instead of bribes and kickbacks to construction company execs. C’mon, make the construction companies actually work for it. Hell, make them buy shovels for all the morons standing around the orange barrels watching the one guy with the shovel work every time I drive by.