Ripon Forum


Vol. 49, No. 1

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In this edition

On Feb. 22, 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appeared before a Joint Session of Congress and laid out his vision to build America’s interstate highway system. Sixty years later, the system that Eisenhower built stands in a state of disrepair. And the Highway Trust Fund that was intended to pay for new construction is instead […]

The Impact of Global Youth Populations on U.S. Foreign Policy

In the world’s least developed countries, where the number of people ages 15 to 29 years old is growing at the most rapid rate, the unmet needs of young people are producing negative impacts beyond the borders of their countries. As Washington grapples with issues ranging from trade barriers, homeland security and the threat posed […]

The Ripon Forum: The First 50 Years

The first edition of THE RIPON FORUM was published 50 years ago this past January. To mark the occasion, we thought it would be a good time to look back over the last half-century at some of the individuals and ideas that have been featured in our pages. It’s an impressive list.

THE BRIDGEBUILDER

Shortly after he was named Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in November 2012, Bill Shuster called his Democratic counterpart on the Committee with a simple request: “Let’s have dinner.” The purpose of the call – and the dinner – was to build a relationship between the two leaders, while setting a tone […]

Restoring Trust in the Highway Trust Fund

We can all relate to sitting in traffic. The frustration, the gridlock – it all seems reminiscent of Washington politics. In this new Congress, however, there is hope for movement and progress when it comes to updating our nation’s roads and highways.

It’s Worse than You Think

America’s transportation infrastructure is falling apart, and we as a nation are falling behind. Yet somehow, with every possible indicator pointing toward the need for increased investment in our crumbling roads, bridges and transit systems, policymakers at all levels of government have been sitting on the sidelines.

Saving the Highway Trust Fund: Is a mileage-based user fee the answer?

The Highway Trust Fund is falling apart. Congress has bailed it out with over $70 billion since 2008 because spending is consistently exceeding revenues. Looking forward, spending plans are 30 percent higher than expected revenues for the highway account and are 50 percent higher for the mass transit account.

The Mileage-Based User Fee: At what cost?

Rarely is a problem best solved by adding layers of complexity to an existing process, particularly a budgetary process. Such is the proposal to supplement or replace the fuel tax with a mileage-based user fee to pull the Federal Highway Trust Fund back from the teetering edge of insolvency.

A New Generation of Transportation Service Delivery

A new generation of highway and transit delivery is arriving, and private infrastructure developers are playing an expanding role. Private companies have designed and constructed highways and transit systems for decades. The new infrastructure developers do much more, including operating and maintaining facilities, and providing financing. Their profits depend on meeting contractual standards of quality […]

Reform Required

The country changes quickly. Congress moves slowly. This presents a classic policy problem where we find ourselves spending federal tax dollars ineffectively because of a policy that has become outdated and in need of reform. In the case of federal transportation spending, the country changed long ago and the reform is overdue.

Ripon Profile of Renee Ellmers

The Representative from North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District discusses the toughest and most rewarding parts of her job, and her priorities over the next two years. “As Republicans,” she states, “I’d like to see us be more proactive and results-oriented – similar to how nurses operate in their day-to-day.”

In this edition

Ike before Joint Session - online onlyOn Feb. 22, 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appeared before a Joint Session of Congress and laid out his vision to build America’s interstate highway system.

“The highway system is a public enterprise,” he stated matter of factly.  “As the owner and operator, the various levels of Government have a responsibility for management that promotes the economy of the nation and properly serves the individual user.”

Sixty years later, the system that Eisenhower built stands in a state of disrepair.  Roads are unsafe.  Bridges are crumbling.  And the Highway Trust Fund that was intended to pay for new construction is instead hemorrhaging money and in need of a new, long-term infusion of cash.

In response to this crisis, Congress and the President have punted.  Twenty seven times over the past five years, they have passed short-term funding bills that have slowed the deterioration of our aging infrastructure but have done nothing to rebuild it or keep it from getting worse.  The last of these short-term measures was approved last summer and expires in May.

With the clock ticking and funds running out, this latest edition of The Ripon Forum looks at the prospects that Congress will be able to reach agreement on a long-term spending plan before the deadline is reached.  We do so by talking with and hearing from a collection of leaders and experts who are helping to drive the debate.

Leading our coverage is an interview with Bill Shuster, the Chairman of Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.  Shuster’s job is to steer the bill through the House.  Both literally and politically, Shuster is a bridgebuilder – someone who understands that the road to repairing America’s aging infrastructure runs across the partisan divide.  In our interview, he talks about the challenge of passing a bill, and the importance of taking action this year.

We also hear from Senator David Vitter, who Chairs the Subcommittee on Environment and Public Works and shares Shuster’s sense of urgency about the importance of reaching agreement on a long-term plan.  “While short-term fixes have allowed the trust fund to continue operating,” the Louisiana lawmaker writes, “taxpayers continue to drive on deteriorating roads and bridges wondering where their taxpayer dollars have gone.”

This viewpoint is echoed by Ray LaHood.  In an essay for the Forum, the former Congressman and Transportation Secretary writes about the “deplorable state” of America’s infrastructure and what it is costing American taxpayers each year.  “Because 32 percent of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition,” he pens, “taxpayers are paying on average $444 each year in additional vehicle repairs and operating costs … And because 44 percent of America’s major urban highways are congested, drivers are paying $121 billion in wasted time and fuel.”

This edition of the Forum also looks at the possibility of adopting a mileage-based user fee as a new source of revenue for the Highway Trust Fund.  Adrian Moore of the Reason Foundation argues it is something that should be seriously considered, while Gary Biller with the National Motorists Association argues that the costs may be too high.  And, in two other insightful essays, Jonathan Gifford of George Mason University examines the growing importance of Public-Private Partnerships, and Joshua Schank of the Eno Center for Transportation examines our nation’s transportation priorities and concludes that they need to be changed.

As always, we hope you find this edition of The Ripon Forum informative and interesting, and encourage you to contact us with any comments or questions you may have.

Lou Zickar
Editor of THE RIPON FORUM
louzickar@clu.ccw.mybluehost.me