ISTEA--POINT/COUNTER POINT

Representative John Kasich (Ohio/Republican) and Representative James Oberstar (Minnesota/Democrat) square off in a point-counter point discussion on the reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Kasich states that the system of funding the federal aid highways program is outdated, inefficient, and costly. Kasich suggests shifting authority to the states via a Transportation Empowerment Act (TEA). TEA would allow states to make their own transportation decisions, increasing their transportation purchasing power by 20 percent by removing the federal government from the picture. Oberstar counters that the nation's transportation infrastructure is the backbone of our national mobility, economy, and social fabric, and that drawing states lines or devolution would pit state against state. The Truth in Budgeting Act aims to take transportation trust funds off-budget so billions in Treasury notes could be released for transportation projects. Also, ISTEA should be reauthorized and expanded, focusing transportation investments on a diverse portfolio of transportation options to meet national transportation goals.