Nevadans join effort to restore highway funding

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 10:56 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers have joined an effort to restore federal highway money just a few days after President Bush unveiled a budget that would strip the money away.

Bush's budget, released Monday, proposed a $23.1 billion highway budget that, coupled with federal gas tax receipts shortfalls, amounted to a cut of roughly $8.6 billion.

In Nevada that could amount to a decrease from roughly $199 million to $146 million. The money could slow such projects as U.S. 95 widening extending southeast from the Spaghetti Bowl.

Many members of the House Transportation Committee have signed a bill they planned to introduce today that would restore roughly $4.5 billion. A similar bill was to be introduced in the Senate today.

Lawmakers from both parties from states nationwide are eager to get their interstate money back, said Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., one of the bill's original co-sponsors. She said the bill's chances were "outstanding."

"It will take efforts from everybody on both sides of the aisle, but there seems to be overwhelming support," Berkley said.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, added, "The amount of funding we are seeking is a reasonable and achievable amount."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., signed said the nation can't afford to cut highway jobs during a recession.

"Ever-worsening congestion in my home state of Nevada has told me that all our roadways could use a lot of work," Reid said in a written statement.