Sestak (D-PA7) proposes solution to release highway funds ( job creation & infrastructure)

[MH1]

Here is an example of creative thinking to overcome an issue that is holding up job creation even though the funds were already approved. This is not just for Sestak's state (PA), he is requesting it across the board, even though the article highlights the potential positive impact for PA:

http://www.politicspa.com/joe-sestak-calls-for-key-investment-in-pennsylvania-transportation/5149/

In a letter to key members, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak urged the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to free up federal funding dedicated to the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). These resources can provide job opportunities and improved infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania, particularly in the Central part of the state. ...

Currently, states must provide a certain amount of matching funds to receive the money; however Joe believes an exception should be made because of the extreme budget challenges facing Pennsylvania and other states. Because of the economic slowdown, many of the states, including Pennsylvania, have been unable to provide the matching funds, leaving hundreds of billions of dollars unspent at a time when such infrastructure jobs should be expanded, not curtailed.

Pennsylvania alone has $227 million in allocated funding that it has not spent due to a lack of matching funds. If the matching requirement were reduced or eliminated, as Joe Sestak has called for, the Commonwealth is prepared to put the funding immediately ...

The letter (it should be ok to post this in full since it is public correspondence from a government official):

January 14, 2009

The Honorable James Oberstar
Chairman
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
2156 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable John Mica
Ranking Member
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
2163 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica:

As you know, the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) was created to speed up the much needed building of a highway system through one of the most economically challenged regions of this country. However, because of the budgeting challenges that Pennsylvania, and other states now face, it has become a challenge for many state governments to meet the 20% matching requirement of the program.

In light of the record budget gap facing states in which the ADHS lies, I urge the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to consider either temporarily reducing or eliminating the state match until these states weather the current budget downturn, or provide more flexibility for the states to achieve that 20% match. One option would be to allow use of turnpike credits that, which was highlighted in a recent letter by the Pennsylvania delegation. This would support the precedent set by past surface transportation authorizations, which gave states extensive flexibility in accessing the 20% match.

Reducing or eliminating the matching requirement, or creating greater flexibility in meeting the match, will allow already dedicated federal funds to again flow into a region much in need of development assistance, jobs and infrastructure for further economic growth. Failure to take action in this area will undoubtedly result in federal funding going unspent at a time when assistance is needed most and further push down the promise of a completed highway system for the Appalachians.

While we have made real advances since the establishment of the ADHS, the job is not yet done. I strongly urge your immediate attention to this matter and I look forward to working with you on this and the urgent passage of a long-term comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization.

Warmly,

Joe Sestak
Member of Congress

Members of the committee - if you are in one of these districts and think Sestak's proposal should move forward, please call your rep and say so:

http://transportation.house.gov/about.aspx



James L. Oberstar, Minnesota, Chairman

Democrats

* Nick J. Rahall, II, West Virginia (Vice Chair)
* Peter A. DeFazio, Oregon
* Jerry F. Costello, Illinois
* Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia
* Jerrold Nadler, New York
* Corrine Brown, Florida
* Bob Filner, California
* Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas
* Gene Taylor, Mississippi
* Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland
* Leonard L. Boswell, Iowa
* Tim Holden, Pennsylvania
* Brian Baird, Washington
* Rick Larsen, Washington
* Michael E. Capuano, Massachusetts
* Timothy H. Bishop, New York
* Michael H. Michaud, Maine
* Russ Carnahan, Missouri
* Grace F. Napolitano, California
* Daniel Lipinski, Illinois
* Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii
* Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania
* Timothy J. Walz, Minnesota
* Heath Shuler, North Carolina
* Michael A. Arcuri, New York
* Harry E. Mitchell, Arizona
* Christopher P. Carney, Pennsylvania
* John J. Hall, New York
* Steve Kagen, Wisconsin
* Steve Cohen, Tennessee
* Laura Richardson, California
* Albio Sires, New Jersey
* Donna F. Edwards, Maryland
* Solomon P. Ortiz, Texas
* Phil Hare, Illinois
* John A. Boccieri, Ohio
* Mark H. Schauer, Michigan
* Betsy Markey, Colorado
* Michael E. McMahon, New York
* Thomas S.P. Perriello, Virginia
* Dina Titus, Nevada
* Harry Teague, New Mexico
* John Garamendi, California
* Vacancy

Republicans

* John L. Mica, Florida, Ranking - Republican Member
* Don Young, Alaska
* Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin
* Howard Coble, North Carolina
* John J. Duncan, Jr., Tennessee
* Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
* Frank A. LoBiondo, New Jersey
* Jerry Moran, Kansas
* Gary G. Miller, California
* Henry E. Brown, South Carolina
* Timothy V. Johnson, Illinois
* Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania
* Sam Graves, Missouri
* Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania
* John Boozman, Arkansas
* Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
* Jim Gerlach, Pennsylvania
* Mario Diaz-Balart,Florida
* Charles W. Dent, Pennsylvania
* Connie Mack,Florida
* Lynn A. Westmoreland, Georgia
* Jean Schmidt, Ohio
* Candice S. Miller, Michigan
* Mary Fallin, Oklahoma
* Vern Buchanan, Florida
* Robert E. Latta, Ohio
* Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
* Anh "Joseph" Cao, Louisiana
* Aaron Schock, Illinois
* Pete Olson, Texas

[endless october]

1. should be doing this coast to coast.

including electrical infrastructure.

put people back to work.

[MH1]

7. Sestak's proposal will apply to all states that have budget problems

or otherwise have difficulty meeting the matching requirements.

Saving/creating jobs and maintaining infrastructure - 2 very important things Congress needs to be doing.

[alfredo]

2. Makes sense.

[blue neen]

3. I like this idea:

"In light of the record budget gap facing states in which the ADHS lies, I urge the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to consider either temporarily reducing or eliminating the state match until these states weather the current budget downturn, or provide more flexibility for the states to achieve that 20% match."

Hey, we need all the help we can get creating jobs right now!

[existentialist]

4. Can we really have our representatives

supporting sensible policies and legislation???


Sestak for Senate.

[MH1]

6. breath of fresh air, isn't it?

:)

[necso]

5. I don't know all the details,

but sometimes the government has pools of money that have been set aside, but not allocated and expended.

Temporarily removing the hurdles to allocating and spending some of this money may be appropriate, given the financial circumstances.

And this may be such a case.

[MH1]

8. kick for the evening crowd. :)

[invictus]

9. SESTAK FOR SENATE 2010

[MH1]

10. ..

:thumbsup: