Momentum is building for congressional passage of a long-term transportation plan to repair crumbling roads and bridges, move people and freight more efficiently, and boost employment. Problem is -- how to pay for it. 18th District Congressman Aaron Schock of Peoria tells WMBD's Greg and Dan he has an idea.
"We have new off shore leasing rights we have not sold. And, we have leasing rights for natural gas exploration on public lands," says Schock. "Why not couple those with a highway bill and let the revenue from the sale of those leasing rights and the long-term profit-sharing that occurs for the federal government flow into the Fuel Tax fund?"
But, Schock says, don't look for high speed rail to be a top priority in any new transportation plan that eventually makes its way through Congress. "I like riding on a high speed train but I also like riding on good roads and flying out of good airports and those happen to pay for themselves more than rail does."
A Senate bill would spend $109-billion over two years. House Republicans have discussed a six-year, $286-billion bill paid for by revenue from expanded oil and natural gas drilling.
