$7 million is slated for Marion and Polk counties' projects
WASHINGTON -- Oregon would get nearly $2.6 billion in road money through the end of the decade under a $284 billion transportation bill the House passed Thursday.
That is a 27 percent increase, $546 million more than the state received under the last multiyear transportation bill Congress approved in 1998. Oregon was among 13 states that did better than the 25.5 percent average increase for highway money.
"I'm flying home a happy man. A little while ago, I was sweating it," said Jason Tell, an Oregon Department of Transportation official, who was in Washington, D.C., during Thursday's vote.
"This is a real bright spot. This is going to help our economy and create jobs," said Tell, who follows federal issues for ODOT.
Lawmakers gave lopsided approval in a 417-9 vote, hoping that they will produce a final version after two years of failed efforts. The Senate must take the next step and pass its own version before both chambers can negotiate a compromise bill.
Senators might try to add money, but that likely would trigger a veto threat from President Bush, who wants to limit spending.
The bulk of the transportation money is distributed by formula, but the bill also includes $12.4 billion in local projects requested by members. Many House members seek the projects to give them bragging rights with their constituents. Taxpayer watchdog groups consider the spending pork.
Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-West Linn, said that Marion and Polk counties would get $7 million for projects, including:
Tell credited Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, for boosting not only the amount of Oregon's highway money but also for increasing the state's share of the overall money for transportation needs other than roads. The multiyear bills the House and Senate produced last year would have given Oregon more highway money but a smaller slice of other transportation money such as public transit.
This year, DeFazio became one of four senior members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee responsible for putting together the House bill and for negotiating with the Senate for a final bill.
"I'm really impressed. He's been very focused on this bill," Tell said.
The bill does not change the basic formula for how transportation money is divided among the states, although the Senate might try to address that.
Under the old transportation bill, states received at least 90.5 cents in so-called "formula aid" for every dollar they contributed in gasoline taxes to the Highway Trust Fund. States that give more than they get -- such as Florida, New Jersey and Texas -- want to raise that to 95 cents. Oregon received a $1.02 return in formula aid, according to an analysis by a coalition of states that put more into the Highway Trust Fund.
Tell said it appears that Oregon will continue to get a higher return for every gas-tax dollar that it puts in.
DeFazio and Tell are looking ahead to the Senate. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Portland, is no longer on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will put together the Senate transportation bill. Wyden and Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Pendleton, have told transportation officials that they will lobby heavily for the state.
But the pressure will be on DeFazio, who is expected to be at the heart of negotiations as the new top Democrat on the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee.
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