Cong. Griffin Likes New Highway Bill’s Chances

A bill that would extend current highway funding through May 31, 2015, will be considered – and, according to Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., will be passed – during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Thursday.

The Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 comes at a critical time. The federal Highway Trust Fund, which the federal government disburses to states for highway projects, is projected to be empty by the end of August, forcing the government to reimburse states only as money becomes available. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has already put projects on hold in case that happens.

The bill introduced by the committee’s chairman, Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., would provide additional highway money in three ways.

A pension smoothing provision would raise $6.4 billion by allowing employers to delay contributing to pension plans, thus raising their taxable incomes. An increase in customs user fees at ports would raise $3.5 billion. Another would transfer $1 billion funded by fuel taxes to highways from the Leaking Underground Storage Tanks account.

Griffin, a member of the committee, said in an interview Tuesday that he was confident that the bill would pass out of committee easily and would have support in the House and even in the Senate.

Members of Congress understand the immediate need for highway funding and can agree on infrastructure more readily than other issues, he said. The proposals introduced by Camp already have attracted broad support from Democrats when voted on in other provisions. Finally, Camp is highly influential.

“If Dave Camp brings up something in committee, we’re going to pass it out,” Griffin said.

Griffin said he was certain the bill had been discussed with senators before being released. In a Ways and Means Committee press release, Camp was quoted thanking Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; ranking Republican member Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; and ranking Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., “for all the input their staffs have provided over the last week.”

“This one is drafted to pass, not to make a point,” Griffin said.

Griffin said that the plan is not the long-term fix needed to address highway needs, but, “It looks like it’s responsible, and it looks like it does what it needs to do.”