Saturday, August 30, 2008

“50 Days, 50 Ways” Hits the Road

Bosse targets waste in transportation programs

(Hillsboro) As New Hampshire families prepare to travel this Labor Day weekend, or stay closer to home to avoid high gas prices, Republican Grant Bosse is targeting wasteful transportation spending during his “50 Days, 50 Ways to Cut Federal Spending” Initiative. Bosse would eliminate the burdensome “Davis-Bacon” regulations that drive up the cost of highway projects, and would repeal the New Starts Transit Program, Essential Air Service, and Next Generation High Speed Rail.

“Congress imposed Davis-Bacon mandates on highway and infrastructure projects across our country, adding $250 million a year to the cost of maintaining our roads and bridges,” Bosse said. “Labor unions support Davis-Bacon because it protects them from competing for government jobs. That’s bad news for taxpayers.”

The New Starts Transit Program spends $1,204,000,000 a year on light rail projects, which are more expensive and less flexible than the bus routes they replace. Essential Air Service spends $103 million a year to subsidize air service, at a cost of $200 per passenger. Congress spends $20 million a year on High Speed Rail even though most of America’s train tracks would be incompatible with trains traveling over 125 MPH.

“Transportation is an essential element in America’s economy success. We have to stop raiding the Highway Trust Fund for other programs, and we have to stop pork-barrel transportation programs,” Bosse added. “This Labor Day, it’s costing New Hampshire families more to get on the road. Let’s cut this spending, and make it more affordable to build those roads.”

To date, Bosse has more than $22.6 billion in taxpayer savings by eliminating unnecessary federal programs. To learn more about Bosse’s aggressive grassroots campaign, go to www.Bosse2008.com.

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