Rep. Sak offered the following concurrent resolution:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 5.
A concurrent resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation to provide that Michigan will receive a minimum of 95 percent of transportation funds it sends to the federal government.
Whereas, For several decades, Michigan has sent much more federal highway tax money to Washington, D.C. than it has received in return. This imbalance has helped our nation build the country's highway infrastructure. With the national infrastructure largely completed, the continuation of the imbalance has created a serious challenge for Michigan and other donor states; and
Whereas, Michigan, which typically loses between $150 million and $400 million each year by sending more to Washington, D.C. than it receives, is severely hampered. This unfair practice of contributing hundreds of millions of dollars beyond the amount we receive to fund projects in other parts of the country makes it far more difficult for Michigan to maintain the quality of its highways; and
Whereas, The potential impact for Michigan of a guarantee of at least 95 percent of this funding would be very significant. Even as the economy calls for careful public expenditures, this proposed policy change would help Michigan and bring greater fairness to the issue of transportation appropriations. Citizens, visitors, and businesses of this state would benefit enormously from this long overdue policy; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation to provide that Michigan will receive a minimum of 95 percent of transportation funds it sends to the federal government; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
R 0105 '05