“Nancy Pelosi's cosponsorship not withstanding, I could not in good conscience support a bloated, out-of control bill like this,” Franks said.  “This bill was almost anything but a highway bill.  Instead, it was full of Davis-Bacon, museum, and study expenses that would ultimately have to be paid with higher taxes. 

And Arizona is short-changed.  As it was passed today, this bill continues, and even worsens, the inequitable distribution of the federal fuel tax.  With Arizona as a donor state, our taxpayers will continue to unfairly subsidize other states’ transportation projects.”

Estimated cost of H.R. 3550 is $283 billion over six years.  This far exceeds the President’s version of $256 billion and faces the threat of veto.  Further, 20% of federal transportation dollars goes to mass transit, which serves less than 2% of America’s travelers. 

Some of the provisions included are:

§ A re-opener provision (allowing future Congresses to increase spending) that could eventually require an increase in overall spending beyond the current levels in the bill.

§ $60 million grant program for states that have enacted an anti-racial profiling law.

Included in the High Priority Projects Section are:

§ At least 221 projects totaling over $333 million for pedestrian improvements, bicycle paths, beautification and enhancement projects, and streetscape improvements.

§ Funding for at least 7 museums totaling $8.5 million.

§ Funding for at least 80 walking, hiking, and biking trails totaling over $132 million.

“I have worked hard to secure the much-needed funding for Arizona’s Hoover Dam Bypass project, a project I consider of the utmost importance in terms of homeland security, and I have strong commitments that this critical funding will occur.  However, I was compelled to make a statement vote today, based on the exorbitant and excessive, not to mention wasteful, cost of this overall legislation.”