Sen. Boozman Talks Highway Funding At Jonesboro Chamber

It may be a question of literally where the rubber meets the road on funding issues for a highway bill as lawmakers continue to discuss the future of the federal legislation, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. told the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

Boozman, who was traveling in Northeast Arkansas Friday, met with chamber officials and business leaders during a one-hour meeting at the local chamber office on Nettleton Avenue.

The Arkansas senator, who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said he believes there has been a bipartisan effort to approve a long-term highway bill. A temporary bill, which passed the House and Senate earlier this year, will expire on Oct. 9.

While the bill is in the hands of the House, Boozman said there are several major issues that surround the topic.

First, the funding in the Highway Trust Fund has been flat for some time with newer fuel efficient vehicles needing less gas. However, a drop in gas prices has caused people to drive more, thus adding more revenue to the fund, Boozman told the group.

When asked a question about funding and the overall federal budget, the Republican lawmaker said the country’s $18 trillion debt has forced congressional officials to push back on discretionary spending, including funding for transportation, defense and federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI.

Meanwhile, entitlement spending has grown with the nation expected to face a $450 billion deficit this year, Boozman said. While there are no earmarks set aside due to a ban on the practice, Arkansas is expected to receive more federal funding under the proposed highway bill.

Secondly, Boozman said officials have been looking for new ways to bring in revenue without raising taxes. It may involve asking states and cities to provide matching funds for projects, he said, as well as building support on the local level for a project before seeking federal help. Also, there is roughly $2 trillion in revenues overseas from U.S. corporations that face a higher tax rate in the U.S. than in other countries, he said.

I-555 AND ARKANSAS 226
Boozman also discussed two projects local chamber officials are seeking support on, including the proposed I-555 project and Arkansas 226 west of Jonesboro.

The I-555 project would change U.S. 63 from Lake David in Crittenden County to Jonesboro to interstate status, but has hit a snag in recent years due to a federal regulation involving agriculture vehicles on interstate highways.

The state legislature approved a bill earlier this year in a special session to set parameters for farm vehicles to travel on the highway. Boozman said he, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. and Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, have been working to make the interstate plan a reality.

The need for the project has been great, Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin said. “We want to remove that ‘future’ sign. It is getting kind of rusty,” Perrin said of the delay.

As for Arkansas 226, chamber officials have supported the project for many years. The project would link up U.S. 49, west of Jonesboro, to U.S. 67 in western Craighead County. U.S. 67 has been extended from Newport to the Craighead/Jackson County line in recent years, allowing Jonesboro residents to make a speedier trip to Little Rock.