Both the American Soybean and National Corn Growers Associations want a long term funding fix for the highway bill. Last week the U.S. House passed a short term extension to that legislation that runs out July 31. It had been scheduled to end May 31. American Soybean Association President Wade Cowan says it’s bad business to try and solve problems piecemeal and infrastructure is important enough for all areas of the economy that it needs long term support.
Cowan says rather than always relying on a gas tax, infrastructure projects should be funded by some type of a user fee. He adds that wise use of tax dollars also need to be used for funding those needs.
Meanwhile National Corn Grower’s President Chip Bowling in calling for a long term fix notes that in the past eight years there have been 32 extensions and five revenue shortfalls to transportation funding.