The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 10, 2009

Federal road dollars beat stimulus, Rahall insists

By Mannix Porterfield

A six-year extension of the federal highway account trumps any second stimulus package that is making the rumor mill on Capitol Hill these days, Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., maintained Tuesday during a transportation conference in Beckley.

In the same remarks, Rahall vowed a strenuous battle to maintain the formula that hands the state $1.69 for every dollar in taxes sent to Washington.

One school of thought wants a mere six-month extension in the federal highway trust fund, while President Obama is holding out for an 18-month lease.

Rahall told the West Virginia Transportation Conference that a long-term proposal he is backing would give the road industry more stability and allow states to make plans in a more efficient manner.

“It’s critical we get this job done,” Rahall said in support of the $450 billion package for roads and bridges.

“A bill of this nature is critical to delivering urgently needed jobs, getting our nation out of this historic economic recession. That beats any second stimulus package Congress should even consider doing. It’s more immediate. The best economic stimulus we have is reauthorization of the federal aid to transportation bill.”

Rahall reminded his audience that 35,000 jobs are created with every $1 billion invested in highway work.

“Every school kid in West Virginia knows the values of good roads,” the 3rd District congressman said.

“An investment in the transportation system means good-paying jobs. You can look out almost any window in Beckley or any town in southern West Virginia, and across our state, and see what that means.”

Rahall labeled King Coal Highway, the Coalfields Expressway and the Shawnee Parkway as “very noble projects,” but said money has become critical.

And at this juncture, the federal highway fund is tapped out, he emphasized.

“Paying for this bill raises other four-letter words, such as t-o-l-l,” he said, emphasizing he personally is willing to look at any suggestions for putting money into roads and bridges.

“All options are on the table,” he said. “I don’t preclude any. It is necessary we be honest with ourselves and put everything on the table when it comes to an issue of this nature.”

Rahall, however, is adamantly opposed to one tax idea — vehicle miles traveled, when as-yet-to-be-produced technology would log everyone’s mileage and base a driver’s taxes on such.

“I don’t like it,” he said. “It sounds the death knell for economies like southern West Virginia where our people do have such lengthy commutes to work.”

Rahall vowed a spirited battle to maintain West Virginia’s current $1.69 share of every $1 the state pays in federal taxes.

“I can tell you it’s going to be another nasty fight in the formula that has worked so well in West Virginia,” he said.

Rahall said the stimulus package is working, putting $66.5 million in federal highway projects, $300,000 in Amtrak and $1 million in airport money, but far more dollars are needed in road funds to meet the state’s needs.

“Our path is difficult,” he said. “We know the hole we’re in. We must look forward.”

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