Federal Reauthorization

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Federal Reauthorization
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In the beginning God Created the Heaven and the
Earth

• In September of 2003 Congress set out to
  reauthorize transportation funds for six years!

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It took less time to create heaven and the earth
than it will take Congress to reauthorize
transportation funds!
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Where are we in the process?

• 3 bills have emerged
• The Administrations bill
• The House bill (H.R. 3550) Passed the
  House
• Senate bill (S.1072) Passed the Senate
• As of last week the committee of conference has
  been appointed.

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Authorization levels - total highway and transit

• Administrations Bill - 256 Billion
• House Bill - 284 Billion
• Senate Bill - 318 Billion

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Totals for Vermont

• Senate Bill 6 yr. period - 1,013,356,085
• House Bill 6 yr. period - 829,123,633
• Admin. Bill 6 yr. period - 802,448,346

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The Politics

• The President has threatened to veto any amount
  above 256 billion.
• Republican leadership will not bring a bill to
  the floor that the president will veto.
• The Senate appears unwilling to move to a number
  lower than their 318 billion.

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What if conferees cannot settle on an amount?

• Another extension resolution can be passed after
  June 30th. The length of the resolution is
  unknown.
• There could be no reauthorization until late Fall
  or after Congress convenes in January 2005.
• Latest word is that if no agreement can be
  reached by June 30th it is unlikely there will be
  a bill.

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Share States A danger for Vermont

• Share states are those states that have pushed to
  get a larger percentage of their tax dollars
  back.
• Currently Vermont receives 1.81 for every
  transportation dollar we send to Washington
• Share states want to be guaranteed 95 return in
  a reauthorization bill.
• This would mean less money for Vermont.

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Conference Committee Potential Problem

• The committee is made up overwhelmingly of
  members who represent share states.

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Senate Solution To Share

• Senate Bill S.1072 is the only bill that will
  raise the share level without penalizing
  Vermont and other receiving states.
• It does this by increasing the funding to the
  318 billion there by increasing the size of the
  pie for everyone.
• Any bill with a funding level below 318 billion
  will have a negative impact on receiving states.

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VTrans involvement

• Have tracked and read all pieces of legislation,
  and have worked directly with congressional
  representatives and their staff regarding
  earmarks and written policy within the bill.
• Have worked with National organizations AASHTO,
  NASTO CONEG to provide a lobbying force,
  speaking in one voice.
• Have maintained communication via weekly and
  sometimes daily updates with groups located in
  Washington DC.