(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Rod Blum (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding his “no” vote on HR 3038, the House’s temporary reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund.
“As a career small businessman, I know from a lifetime of experience that uncertainty is the enemy of businesses. This bill was yet another temporary patch for our critical infrastructure needs that kicks the can down the road and leaves our builders, contractors and planners with no ability to make longer term investments or prepare for the future. A first class infrastructure is paramount to reigniting our economy. We need a long term solution to our country’s infrastructure problems, not more short term management by crisis.”
“Further, as a member of the House Budget Committee, I have grave concerns about the funding for this bill. The five month cost of the legislation is $8.1 billion, funded by 20 years of budget gimmicks like IRS collection schemes, “pension smoothing,” and higher fees on businesses, air travelers and families with mortgages. This is typical of our federal government: spend the money now and pay for it 20 years from now. We need to make the tough decisions today and stop using accounting tricks to pass on the credit card bill to our children and grandchildren instead.”