Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Government at Work - "Highway" Funds
NOT coming soon to a highway or bridge near you.
Instead it goes to...
Instead it goes to...
Senator Tom Coburn's government website:
"released a report on $78 billion from the Highway Trust Fund not being spent on bridges or roads. 'Out of Gas: Congress Raids the Highway Trust Fund for Pet Projects While Bridges and Roads Crumble' includes an analysis of a newly published GAO study the two Senators requested to determine how Congress is spending Highway Trust Fund receipts.
GAO auditors found that over the last five years, $78 billion in Highway Trust Fund receipts have been obligated for “purposes other than construction and maintenance of highways and bridges” such as bike paths, pedestrian walkways and facilities, “scenic beautification” and landscaping projects, and road-kill prevention projects.
Included in Highway Trust Fund Spending:
* Over $2 billion on 5,547 bike paths and pedestrian walkways, including $878,000 for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge for a Minnesota town of 847. An additional $2 million in federal stimulus funds for a bike lane along a deteriorating road in Pennsylvania, where exasperated local officials say the road is so bad they may be forced to drive on the bike path instead.
* $850 million for 2,772 “scenic beautification” and landscaping projects around the country;
And there's much, much more..."
