September 30, 2003
September 30, 2003
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today joined 14 of the nation's governors in urging Congressional transportation leaders to assure that a final bill provides at least 95 percent of the funds the states send to Washington for the federal highway program. The Governors' action comes as President Bush signs a five-month temporary extension law to continue the nation's highway and transit programs.
Granholm, who organized the multi-state letter with Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL), urged Congressional leaders to act expeditiously during the next few months to pass a bill that meets the growing list of unmet infrastructure needs, particularly in states like Michigan that historically have received less money for highways and transit than they send to Washington. During the past six years, Michigan has averaged an 88 percent return on highway funding.
"Michigan drivers know that too many of our roads are in poor condition and cause higher vehicle repair costs," Granholm said. "While I'm pleased Congress and the President have kept the transportation funds flowing, too much of our money is spilling into other states. I hope Congress will pass a six-year bill by early next year that gets Michigan the full 95 percent minimum guarantee we deserve."
A 95 percent return is projected to help bring home approximately $200 million more per year to Michigan in federal highway funds and would similarly impact the states of the other governors, who wrote: "This inequity disproportionately impacts our commuters with more congestion, less safety and mobility, and higher vehicle repair bills than experienced in the ‘donee' states." Specifically, the governors endorsed the Highway Funding Equity Act, legislation co-introduced by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX), and co-sponsored by Michigan's congressional delegation. The governors wrote that the legislation would, "achieve a reasonable balance between state equity and responsible stewardship of our national highway system."
The letter to Congressional leaders is the first joint governors' statement from several donor states that formed the States' Highway Alliance for Real Equity, or SHARE, a group working to gain Congressional support for a more equitable distribution of federal highway funds. It was signed by Granholm and the governors of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Between 1998 and 2001, there were 26 states that received less than a 100 percent share of their contributions to the Highway Trust Fund, and 20 states received less than a 95 percent share. More information on SHARE can be found at www.sharestates.org.
