Yesterday, we discussed the transportation funding crisis that is looming in Washington, D.C. Today, we’ll take a quick look at what California’s representatives in the U.S. Senate are doing about this.
Barbara Boxer, the Chair of the Senate’s Infrastructure and the Environment Committee, recognizes the need to raise more revenue for transportation, but doesn’t want to see an increase in the gas tax. I’m not sure what mix of transportation funding options are available that will produce the trillions of dollars needed to maintain our highway network while expanding the transit network, but I do know its going to be nigh impossible without an increase in the gas tax.
For Diane Feinstein, the record isn’t as clear. A search of her Senate website doesn’t bring up any quotes, releases, statements, etc...where she addresses transportation debt at all. A search of the greater Internet reveals a quote off a GOP website from 2000 opposing decreasing the gas tax and a very detailed article entitled, "Trilateral Globalists Call For Gas Tax Hike."
Feinstein has been an outspoken supporter of reducing Greenhouse gasses, but doesn’t include either a gas tax, or reducing automobile dependence in her list of changes that need to be made. Any bill on Greenhouse Gasses has to go through the committee Boxer chairs, and she has spoken out in support of legislation which would seek to reduce U.S. emissions by 63% between 2005 and 2050.
