Blumenauer, DeFazio blast Republicans over transpo bill – UPDATED

OR Bike Summit - Saturday opening-2.jpg

He’s fired up.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Oregon Congressmen Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio are pulling no punches when it comes to leveling criticism at the House transportation bill that was released yesterday.

Referring to it as the, “Republican Highway and Transportation Bill,” Blumenauer said in an official statement, “I am appalled at the fantasy finance scheme Republicans are proposing.” Blumenauer is a senior member of the House Budget and Ways and Means committees, so he focused his criticisms on financial issues instead of simply bashing the bill for being anti-bike.

Here’s more from Blumenauer’s official statement (emphasis mine):

“Rather than working in a bipartisan fashion to find revenue for the Highway Trust Fund, House Republicans instead would tie revenues from oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and in our coastal waters to transportation funding. Drilling in these areas is opposed by the public and runs the same environmental risks that gave us the Deepwater Horizon disaster. What’s more, my colleagues know full well that revenues from this drilling would do almost nothing to close our funding gap. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the best case scenario would result in $5 billion over ten years, when we need $60 billion over five years to fund the Trust Fund. This bill’s reliance on such an inadequate funding scheme shows just how unserious and partisan an effort it is at real transportation reform.”

Blumenauer said the current House bill would make it hard for states and local municipalities to have a say in transportation decisions, “Making it harder for citizens to have a say about projects happening in their backyard.”

More specifically about bicycling, Blumenauer blasted the bill for eliminating bike-specific funding streats, “At a time when communities are clamoring for cheaper, more efficient ways to increase capacity and save their citizens money on gasoline.”

“Given the economic realities we are facing,” he continued, “it is absurd to block communities from spending money on projects that make biking and walking commutes easier.”

DeFazio ready for fight.

House Rep. Peter DeFazio says the Republican-led transportation bill is a step “backward” in large part because it’s too small (Blumenauer made the same point). The current bill is just $230 billion, which is a 35 percent reduction from the $450 billion legislation DeFazio drafted (and got approved) back in 2009.

In an email to constituents, DeFazio wrote, “It’s simply unfathomable that the Republicans would take us backward at a time when our economic competitors are increasing investments in state of the art infrastructure.”

“You can be sure that I will oppose these cuts,” reads DeFazio’s email, “and fight for robust funding for the transportation reauthorization bill, including alternative transportation modes.”

As our Oregon delegation preps for battle on Capitol Hill, advocates are urging everyone to call or write their representatives to tell them to support two key amendments. Stay tuned.

UPDATE 2/2, 7:15am: The bill is having a markup session this morning on the Hill. Watch Rep DeFazio’s very angry opening remarks. A must see:

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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NW Biker
NW Biker
12 years ago

There’s nothing at all “unfathomable” about Republicans wanting to take us backwards. It’s practically the party motto.

Art Fuldodger
Art Fuldodger
12 years ago
Reply to  NW Biker

except for the Moon colony.

John Lascurettes
12 years ago

Give ’em hell, Earl!

Lance P.
Lance P.
12 years ago

I’m so happy to have Earl Blumenauer representing me. Now I just wish science would catch up so we can create an army of Earl clones to to stand up against uneducated red army (GOP).

Peter W
12 years ago

At about 2:30 into the video, DeFazio is very emphatic about the jobs created by investing in transportation, and mentions one project specifically:

“Doesn’t create jobs?! 440,000 hours–in one bridge in my district–of work. … That’s on Interstate 5…”

Anyone know what project he was talking about?

Will Vanlue (Contributor)
Reply to  Peter W

I’m guessing that’s the replacement bridge they’re building over the Willametter River at the south end of Eugene.

Rick Bernardi
12 years ago

It hasn’t been discussed much, but the “fantasy finance scheme” that Rep. Blumenauer mentioned consists of:

* Permanently removing environmental regulatory “barriers” to American oil production and infrastructure development, and linking infrastructure to oil production by funding motor vehicle transportation infrastructure with oil production revenues.

* Lifting current offshore drilling bans and requiring leasing of new offshore areas.

* Promoting shale oil extraction research and development.

* Approving the Keystone XL pipeline rejected by President Obama in January.

* Opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.

Jonathan Gordon
Jonathan Gordon
12 years ago
Reply to  Rick Bernardi

Republicans seem to advocate for anything that will actively destroy our planet. I swear, if someone introduced a “Create Jobs By Dumping PCBs Into Our Lakes And Streams” act, the Republican Party would fall all over themselves to cosign it.

Jeff Bernards
Jeff Bernards
12 years ago

Where’s the gas tax proposal? It hasn’t been raised in years, it’s time.