Taxpayer Articles

House Transportation Reauthorization Postponed as Deadline Approaches


http://www.taxpayer.net/search_by_category.php?action=view&proj_id=5005&category=Transportation&type=Project


Facts: 
1. any action on a new transportation bill would be pushed off until January at the earliest.
2.  the nation is on course to witness yet another band-aid extension of the last reauthorization. 

3.House Speaker John Boehner outlined a highly-touted but largely unrealistic plan to help fund the new bill with royalties from increased energy development. 

4. submitting even a draft of this “drilling for transportation dollars” legislation before January is unlikely

5. February is the probably the earliest the bill would see the floor.

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Toomey: Ban earmarks forever (Allentown Morning Call)

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=5000&category=&type=Project

1. For years, earmarks played a role in fueling the overspending in Washington and undermining the integrity of our legislative process

2., earmarks were a way to reward lawmakers, barter for votes and honor seniority. 

3. Pat Toomey and senator Claire McCaskill wish to ban earmarks perminately forever.

4. Log rolling and ear-marking is tied together.

5.Toomey requested earmarks worth about $12 million for Lehigh Valley businesses during his time representing the area in the U.S. House.