|
|
Web posted
Monday, February 16, 2004
Young's transportation plan faces veto threat
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Two Bush administration Cabinet secretaries have urged the president to veto any transportation funding bill that requires an increase in gas taxes, a direct threat to Alaska Rep. Don Young's six-year spending plan.
Young, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, wants a major boost in highway and transit spending. Increasing gas taxes by at least tying them to the rate of inflation has been one step he says may be necessary to raise the money.
Young postponed action on the bill even before receiving the veto threat letter from Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Treasury Secretary John Snow.
Those revenue proposals are running into stiff opposition from the White House and House conservatives.
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] |
"There is one thing I can pin down for you now," said Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle at a hearing Feb. 4, "and that is that we're going to do whatever we can to keep this economy growing and creating jobs for out-of-work Americans. And that means raising taxes is not even an option. It's off the table. Period."
|
|
