Billions and billions of dollars

President Bush today signed what is likely to be the most popular bill of his presidency: The Transportation Equality Act of the 21st Century, or as it’s more commonly (and incorrectly) known, the highway bill. Ironically, it's the only major bill he has threatened to veto so far.

The bill, which allocates $286 billion (that's with a B) to states over the next 6 years for various transportation projects, is a mixed bag with a lot of positive, a lot of negative, and a lot of the other white meat...


The Good:

• Tens of billions for transit around the country, including matching grants for a number of new light rail and subway lines in various cities.
  
• Hundreds of thousands - maybe even millions - of new jobs (some admittedly temporary).
  
• Funds for alternative-fuel vehicles.

The Bad:

• Hundreds of billions (the majority of the bill) for counterproductive highway projects that will ultimately make congestion and pollution worse and make our economy even more dependent on foreign oil.

The Pork:

• $24 billion for "special projects" around the country such as $941 million for a bridge in Alaska - to be named after Transportation Committee Chairman and Representative from Alaska Don Young - leading to a virtually uninhabited island.
  
• Speaking of Alaska, it gets three times the money per capita as any other state.

Overall, were I the president (say, *there's* a fun game) I'd have signed it, too... but were I a Congressman I'd have tried to write it a lot differently.

Tags: politics urbanism