Bill Text: NJ AR121 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-11-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [AR121 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR121-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE
District 24 (Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris)
Assemblyman MICHAEL PATRICK CARROLL
District 25 (Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging Congress to pass the "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act."
Whereas, The federal government imposes a tax on motor fuels, including an 18.4 cents per gallon tax on gasoline, that it collects from motorists nationwide to fund various transportation projects; and
Whereas, The federal taxation method is ineffective, as evidenced by the fact that 33 percent of major roads in the United States are in poor or mediocre conditions and cost motorists $67 billion, or $333 per motorist, each year in repairs and operating expenses; and
Whereas, This method of taxation is inequitable because the federal government ultimately decides how the money is allocated, allowing certain states to receive much more money than their motorists contributed, while other states receive much less; and
Whereas, The Interstate Highway System, the development and construction of was which was once the central object of the tax, was a monumental success, but since the system was completed in 1991, Congress has become increasingly unfocused with regard to its allocation of transportation funds; and
Whereas, Federal transportation funding has increasingly become a vehicle for pork barrel spending as exemplified by the infamous $398 million "Bridge to Nowhere" in Ketchikan, Alaska, just one amongst more than 6,300 earmarks included in the last federal highway bill, the 2005 "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users," Pub.L. 109-59 (23 U.S.C. 101 et al.); and
Whereas, The "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act," pending before Congress, would allow any state that raises its fuel tax to have the federal fuel tax offset by the same amount, which would free states' transportation dollars from federal mismanagement and budgetary pressures and let the appropriate state personnel, who are best able, make decisions regarding which infrastructure projects will be built and how they will be financed and regulated; and
Whereas, The "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act" would benefit New Jersey in particular because it would allow the State to increase its motor fuel tax significantly without increasing the tax burden on New Jersey motorists and further enable the State to pursue much needed transportation infrastructure projects; and
Whereas, The "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act" would enable each state to receive an equitable return on what its residents pay in motor fuel taxes and ensure that revenue generated from those taxes are properly and efficiently allocated; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.3595, the "Surface Transportation and Taxation Equity Act."
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.3595, the "Surface Transportation and Equity Act" (hereinafter referred to as "the STATE Act"). The federal government imposes a tax on motor fuels, including an 18.4 cents per gallon tax on gasoline, that it collects from motorists nationwide to fund various transportation projects. Despite the federal tax, 33 percent of major roads in the United States are in poor or mediocre condition and cost motorists $67 billion, or $333 per motorist, each year in repairs and operating expenses. Additionally, the federal method of taxation is inequitable because the federal government, not the states, ultimately decides how the money is allocated, allowing certain states to benefit at the expense of others.
Since the Interstate Highway System was completed in 1991, Congress has become increasingly unfocused with regard to its allocation of transportation funds. Federal transportation funding has increasingly become a vehicle for pork barrel spending: more than 6,300 earmarks were included in the last federal highway bill.
The STATE Act would address the aforementioned inequity and waste allowed under the current transportation funding scheme. Under the legislation, any state that raises its fuel tax would have the federal fuel tax offset by the same amount. This would free transportation dollars from federal mismanagement and budgetary pressures and let the appropriate state personnel, who are best able, make decisions regarding which infrastructure projects will be built and how they will be financed and regulated.
The STATE Act would benefit New Jersey in particular because it would allow the State to increase its motor fuel tax significantly without increasing the tax burden on New Jersey motorists and further enable the State to pursue much needed transportation infrastructure projects.
