South Dakota lawmakers in Washington are considering different proposals to keep money flowing to states for transportation projects. Experts predict a Highway Trust Fund shortfall this summer, which could stop payments to states for roads and bridges.
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approves a bill to extend highway funding through May 2015. South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem casts one of the 367 votes supporting the legislation.
The Senate is considering a different option to temporarily fix the highway trust fund shortfall. Neither stop gap changes the fund’s main source of money: the gas tax.
US Senator Tim Johnson says the real issue is whether the gas tax is the most reasonable way to maintain the withering trust fund.
"It’s difficult to figure out what to do without an increase in gas taxes. Some thought about repealing the entire gas tax and replacing it with per-barrel fuel tax," Johnson says.
Johnson says that’s one option as lawmakers search for a long-term solution to preserve the Highway Trust fund.
He stresses that South Dakota’s vast transit system relies heavily on federal highway money. Johnson says he expects a vote next week on the Senate’s version of the transportation funding bill.
If the Senate approves its bill, Johnson says lawmakers probably have to use a conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate proposals. Both measures include about $11 billion to support 100,000 highway projects across the country.