Transportation Deja Vu?

With Congress due to come back into session, transportation issues will need to be addressed in short order. The extentions approved by Congress in the latter part of 2011 for the Federal Aviation Administration and highway funding expire on Jan 31 and February 29th respectively.

Lobbyists for airports are already asking that a longer term two year funding bill for the Federal Aviation Administration be the first piece of legislation in line for takeoff when Congress gets back to work. Airports have been forced to deal with 22 extensions in the last five years, including 6 covering 2011 alone.

On the highway side, the Senate has begun moving through its committee process a two year bill that would, for the most part, hold funding levels constant. As has been noted in previous posts there are other issues that would impact regional planning agencies and programs of interest to locals.

While the House has not yet put out a bill, Speaker Boehner and committee chairman John Mica of Florida have publicly stated their desire to move away from their original proposal to cut funding by 30% and move closer to full funding. However, the idea to fund such a bill with revenues earned through increases in oil drilling and energy exploration has been met with controversy and opposition by transportation advocates.

The fact is that these issues will be debated early on in 2012. And they will be debated in the context of the 2012 election. The League urges its members to not only speak with their own congressional members about the importance of funding for transportation, but to also be sure to speak with those members of the Michigan congressional delegation that hold important positions in the House. In particular, Congresswoman Candice Miller is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Congressman Dave Camp is chair of the all important Ways and Means Committee. Congressman Sander Levin serves with Camp as a member of that committee. Finally, Congressman Fred Upton is chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  All of these committees will play key roles in the upcoming debate. 

2012 transportation talking points for congress.doc (143.00 kb)

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.