Highways are Congress’ responsibility, but don’t break bank
I joined with [mostly self-term-limited] Congressmen in asking the President to veto the outrageous 1998 transportation bill [which included millions in “bribes” to Districts of Congressmen who voted for it]. Providing such internal improvements is part
of our responsibility as Congressmen. But we don’t have to break the bank and plunge the nation further into debt to do it. When I ran for office the first time, I said I would vote against any piece of legislation--regardless of the good it had for the
District--if it was bad for the country as a whole. This bill was a rotten deal for the taxpayer.
If it were approved, it would shatter the spending caps we had fought for--and nearly lost control of Congress for--back in 1997. At that time, wit
much self-congratulatory fanfare, Congress and the White House fashioned a balanced budget agreement that promised to limit all areas of government spending, including highways. This bill made hash of that agreement less than a year after it was written.
