I read with interest the comment's made by U.S. Rep. Steve Womack in Saturday's Democrat-Gazette.
The congressman, who is from Rogers, was speaking Friday about the Highway Trust Fund to those attending the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce's Business Matters Breakfast at Avondale Chapel.
During the meeting, he told attendees that a long-term solution is needed to save the Highway Trust Fund. He pointed out that the gas tax hasn't been raised since 1990s and it wasn't indexed for inflation when it was raised.
Congress recently passed the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 that keeps funding in place through Dec. 15.
"I'm not going to stand up here today and tell you that's my answer for what we have facing us today, but I got to tell you we have to pay for this stuff somehow," Womack said.
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I think highways are an integral part of our nation and we need to do something about the poor condition of many of our nation's bridges and roads.
I don't think most Americans would be opposed to raising the fuel tax to keep up with work on our highway system.
In northwest Arkansas, we have a critical project on I-49 from Bella Vista to Fayetteville that is being started and stopped because of the lack of federal funding.
But here's another observation that struck us during a recent trip to Little Rock.
The state is building an additional lane from near Conway to Little Rock. That road is under various stages of construction the entire length of the project.
I don't understand why we're not seeing a similar construction pattern for the I-49 project. We're doing short sections on various stretches of the interstate.
Why aren't we starting in Fayetteville and working our way northward so the construction is more concentrated.
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But back to my topic of discussion.
It's an abomination that Congress has not been able to come up with a financing plan for one of the most important economic lifelines in the country -- its highways.
The late President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who is considered the father of the modern interstate system, would be rolling over in his grave if he witnessed the state of inaction on highways and bridges.
Womack made another interesting observation at the Chamber meeting. He said that dealing with whatever is in the headlines on a given day is why the country is in debt, can't make meaningful reforms, or get many things done.
"We've got our work cut out for us," Womack said. "These are big issues. We struggle for time and attention. We get sidetracked by social media and the 24-hour news cycle, but somewhere along the way Congress has to step up to the plate and do its job."
Here's the problem from my perspective: Congress' inability to have the guts to pass a tax increase or to work meaningfully with each other to find compromises.
Too many in Congress have signed a pledge not to raise taxes. Even Ronald Reagan, who is so-often quoted as a champion of the tax cut, raised taxes during his terms in office.
In addition, it's really hard to get things accomplished when Congress is really only in session on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday because the members are home fundraising or maybe visiting constituents from Friday to Monday.
While I think there is some budget cutting that can be done, I don't think the members can cut enough to find highway funds while simultansouly find ways to increase funding for defense, especially at a time when many members of Congress are calling for increased troop presence in the Middle East and other troubled spots, bailout Social Security and Medicare or take care of other social programs.
In order for Congress to lead and guide our nation forward, all options must be on the table, including tax increases and budget cuts.
The daughter made an interesting observation over the weekend. She said she was talking with a friend who said she was liberal on social programs but conservative on fiscal matters. The daughter replied that, in other words, you want to spend money for the programs, but you don't want to pay for them.
That's the problem.
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Throne is managing editor of The Weekly Vista.
Editorial on 07/22/2015