Bridges, Infrastructure and taxes....

[Woolly Bugger]

Before a new gas tax hike, how about some accountability for the billions already collected!!

The bridge collapse sparked concern about highway spans across the country, and U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, pledged Wednesday to introduce legislation aimed at repairing structurally deficient bridges nationwide.

Oberstar, who is chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, pointed out to reporters that nearly 74,000 bridges are classified as "structurally deficient" by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"If we don't want another I-35 collapse, we have to address that portfolio," Oberstar said.

Minnesota state bridge inspectors had classified the bridge as "structurally deficient" for at least 17 years.

Oberstar's draft legislation, which he said he will introduce when the House reconvenes September 5, would improve bridge inspection requirements, provide dedicated funding for improvements, distribute funds based on public safety and need, prohibit earmarks by Congress and the administration and establish a trust fund for bridge repairs and replacements.

The effort, Oberstar said, would be funded by a 5-cent increase in the gas tax, which he estimated would raise $8.5 billion yearly. The program would end after three years.