NHS Funding: The big secrete in Congress

"Out of gas" is how the latest analysis by the GAO* has described the Highway Trust Fund. Two Senators, Tom Coburn(R-OK) and John McCain(R-AZ) released a report that details how billions of dollars from the fund are not being spent on basic infrastructure. In fact, GAO auditors found that over the last five years, $78 billion in fund receipts have been obligated for "purposes other than construction and maintenance of highways and bridges."

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According to the GAO report, the DOT** allotment that went for purposes other than construction included $2.4 billion to the FMCSA,*** another $754 million went to the operating expenses for safety programs while an additional $161 million went to fund the programs information management. Senator McCain noted that the number of highway bill earmarks "has exploded" and called Congressional spending on pet projects "frivolous." "Congress has wasted billions of dollars on low-priority projects such as bike paths while bridges are in disrepair." Senator Coburn said. "It's inexcusable to continue business as usual when Congress could be supporting priorities that would save lives, save taxpayer funds, create jobs and truly stimulate the economy." " Now Congress wants to bail out the trust fund by saddling future generations with more debt." Senator McCain said. "Doing so is irresponsible." "No one is saying our nation should be without flowers and ferries or bike paths and boat museums." The Senators say in their report. "But today's choices must be about priorities."

* Government Accountability Office
** Dept.of Transportation
*** Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration

WOW! in this economy highway fund spending issues are not what commuters want to hear about. Squabbles in Congress are not new, but this is a serious matter. Highways and bridges in disrepair could be crippling to the economy. What if you could not get to work because of poor highways? would you walk, take public transportation or use one those funded bike paths? Our nations highways need constant repair and with recent stories of bridge collapses funding the upkeep of these structures is a priority.

So, now you want to know where these bad roads are, right? Well, we just happen to have a report released in march by Overdrive, a trucking publication that polls truckers for the latest road "report cards." They are as follows:

10 WORST ROADS BY STATE

1. Louisiana

2. Pennsylvania

3. Michigan

4. California

5. Oklahoma

6. New York

7. Illinois

8. New Jersey

9. Missouri

10. Arkansas

Thanks to our partners at TRUCKING101.biz for sharing this information.

Thanks for reading and remember that pot-hole on your street may not get repaired, unless you do it yourself.