Bill Text: MI HR0106 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to rectify the imbalance in federal transportation funding that has consistently put Michigan near the bottom of the 50 states in the percentage of federal transportation tax dollars returned to this state each year.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-06-11 - Adopted [HR0106 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HR0106-Introduced.html
Rep. Nerat offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 106.
A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to rectify the imbalance in federal transportation funding that has consistently put Michigan near the bottom of the 50 states in the percentage of federal transportation tax dollars returned to this state each year.
Whereas, Since the creation of the federal highway system and the construction of the interstate network that began in the 1950s, Michigan has paid more than its share—much more—of the costs of the nation's network of roads. Through a complicated formula that has changed over a span of more than 5 decades, one thing has remained unchanged: Michigan has been, and continues to be, a "donor state," one sending significantly more money to Washington that it receives in return; and
Whereas, Since the enactment of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 and up to and including the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year, Michigan has, through the various federal transportation taxes paid by Michigan drivers, paid out more than $1.4 billion than it has been allocated in program funds. This shortfall, which represents a 94 percent return, places Michigan at 46th out of the 50 states in the money returned to fund projects in our state. The overall result of this policy is an insufficiently maintained highway network that becomes even more expensive to care for than it needs to be; and
Whereas, Although this serious imbalance in the redistribution of federal transportation tax dollars has always been disturbing and unfair, the harmful impact of this continuing injustice is exacerbated as Michigan struggles in the throes of the transformational challenges facing our economy. No longer can we absorb this annual inequity without seriously jeopardizing the safety of all who utilize our aging highway infrastructure; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to rectify the imbalance in federal transportation funding that has consistently put Michigan near the bottom of the 50 states in the percentage of federal transportation tax dollars returned to this state each year; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
