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House approves 'broken promises' transportation
budget despite GOP efforts to retain highway projects
Spending
plan siphons money from 30 projects into Seattle mega-projects
Despite efforts from
Rep. Dan Roach
and other House Republicans to retain funding for 30 highway projects
across the state, the House today passed on a $4 billion transportation
budget that prioritizes money for replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct
and the 520 floating bridge.
Roach, Republican leader
on the House Transportation Committee, said it was frustrating to watch
promises being broken in the budget when House Republicans have a plan
that could have funded all of the projects, including the Seattle mega-projects.
"In 2005, the Legislature
passed a nine-and-a-half cent hike in the gas tax, and citizens voted
that fall to retain that increase with the expectation that
transportation projects promised to their areas would be carried out.
This budget delays 16 highway projects and eliminates funding entirely
for 14 more," said Roach, R-Bonney Lake. "We repeatedly offered
amendments that would have saved those projects, along with the viaduct
and 520 bridge replacements. However the majority party didn't seem much
interested in providing congestion relief and keeping those
transportation promises."
Roach said the
transportation budget passed from the House cuts off funding for all
projects beyond 2015.
"This budget eliminates
$490 million worth of projects that were already promised and paid by
the taxpayers. It sets up citizens for a tax increase in two years.
Remember, people have already paid for these projects they won't be
getting -- and if they want the projects, they'll have to pay for them
again with a tax increase. No wonder people don't trust government!"
said Roach.
The 31st District lawmaker
said he's also concerned the transportation budget makes more promises
it cannot keep.
"The Legislature set aside
funding in 2003 for new ferries to replace the Steel Electrics. Now, six
years later, we still don't have new boats. This budget plan underfunds
the ferry system by $667 million and makes another empty promise to
build new boats without fully funding them," added Roach. "What is
remarkable is that more than $1 million is appropriated for a ferry
system marketing program. We don't have enough boats to serve the people
who already ride the ferry system. Where is the logic in spending money
to promote ferry service when the ferries are already full?"
Roach noted the budget
also puts more emphasis on forcing people out of their cars than
providing congestion relief.
"This spending plan pays
for two additional DOT staffers to deal with climate change. It expands
vanpools and funds a large number of studies, but it does not deliver on
highway construction, including congestion relief on key projects such
as Interstate 90 and I-405," said Roach. "That means more people stuck
in more traffic, and more vehicles idling on the freeway and emitting
more carbon, while the state studies climate change programs. What a
disaster!"
House Republicans offered
as many as 13 amendments to ensure projects are funded using existing
revenue and finished on time. The amendments were rejected by the
majority party.
Senate Bill 5352
passed the House 65-30. It now goes back to the Senate for further
consideration.
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For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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