House Fails to Pass Taxpayer-Protection Measure

Washington, D.C., June 8, 2012 –  Congress today failed in an 82-323 vote to end general revenue bailouts of the Highway Trust Fund.  Rep. Paul Broun (R, Ga.) had introduced the nonbinding motion to instruct (MTI) surface transportation conferees to restrain transportation spending to levels at or below expected Highway Trust Fund revenue. The 82 votes in favor all came from Republicans.  Most Republicans failed to vote for this important measure, and no Democrats voted in favor.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) had previously circulated a letter on Capitol Hill in support of Rep. Broun’s MTI.

“We applaud Rep. Broun for introducing his motion to instruct conferees,” stated CEI Transportation Policy Analyst Marc Scribner. “We also thank Rep. Hastings, the only member of the reauthorization conference committee to support the Broun motion, for standing up to House and Senate leaders and telling them enough is enough.

“While the vote lets us know who can be trusted on fiscal matters, it is unfortunate that most members of Congress are once again complicit in worsening the myriad fiscal nightmares facing the country,” said Scribner.  “Any self-described fiscal conservative who voted down this pro-taxpayer measure should be ashamed.”

See related:

► Rep. Nick Rahall Responds, Agrees with Me on MAP-21′s “Sleight of Hand” Pay-Fors