Bill Text: MI HCR0026 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress and the President to increase Michigan's share of stimulus funding for transportation.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 14-4)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-08-19 - Referred To Committee On Transportation [HCR0026 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HCR0026-Introduced.html
Rep. Knollenberg offered the following concurrent resolution:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 26.
A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress and the President to increase Michigan's share of stimulus funding for transportation.
Whereas, The condition of Michigan's roads and infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly as dollars for construction and improvements dwindle. The crisis in infrastructure funding is exacerbated by rising inflation in materials costs and a decline in fuel tax revenue due to spikes in gas prices, reduced travel, improvements in gas mileage, and the slow economy; and
Whereas, The Michigan Asset Management Council reports that the percentage of roads in poor condition has increased from 25 percent in 2007 to 32 percent in 2008. This represents more than 17,378 lane miles of federal-aid-eligible roads. The costs of this continued deterioration are significant. In 2004, it would have cost about $3.7 billion to bring all poor and fair federal-aid roads up to a good rating. Four years later, it would have cost $7.2 billion, almost double. This represents $3.5 billion in lost value of our road assets. Allowing this trend to continue will have significant financial and economic effects on the state economy, which has been mired in a recession since 2002; and
Whereas, Michigan's heavy reliance on highway travel results in a higher relative federal motor fuel tax burden and also demonstrates our equal or greater need for federal highway dollars to repair our potholed highways and crumbling bridges. For several decades, Michigan has been a "donor" state, contributing a significantly greater proportionate share to the Federal Highway Trust Fund than the share of federal transportation funds returned to Michigan. Currently, Michigan receives only about 92 percent of the share of the federal tax revenue that the state generates which creates a serious financial and safety challenge for the state; and
Whereas, According to the Wall Street Journal, Michigan ranks forty-sixth in per capita transportation stimulus funding. This seems out of line with our nation-leading unemployment rate and history of benefiting other states at our expense. Michigan's beleaguered businesses and citizens, as well as its visitors, would benefit enormously if Michigan were to receive a greater share of federal highway stimulus funding. Even as the economy calls for more careful public expenditures, an increase in transportation funding would help Michigan's manufacturing, commercial, and tourism industries and bring greater fairness to the issue of transportation spending; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize Congress and the President to increase Michigan's share of stimulus funding for transportation; 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.
