Blog: Getting Back on the Road to Prosperity

Statement

This year marked the first time in the last 14 years that Congress passed a balanced budget. We understand that it is unsustainable to continually spend more than is brought in. But that also means that we must prioritize federal spending on the needs of the American people over extraneous projects.

It is no secret our highways and bridges are in an increasing state of disrepair, and Missouri is no exception. Recently, a cracked support beam on an I-70 bridge near Boonville recently caused a lane to be closed for a few days. The Gasconade River Bridge on I-44 in Laclede County has been closed indefinitely. The roads that deliver numerous Missourians to work, school, or home continue to crumble, costing some residents over $1,500 per year from car accidents, maintenance needs, and wasted gas, according to a recent report.

Americans need improvements to their roads and bridges.

However, from 1992 to 2013, over $1.3 billion was spent on landscaping and scenic beautification. That's $1.3 billion that could have been spent repairing the over 60,000 "structurally deficient" bridges -- more than 3,300 of which are in Missouri -- or the miles of highways that continue to plague our commutes and our vehicles.

I introduced a bill in Congress last week that would free funds from unnecessary projects, allowing them to go where they are needed -- upgrading and improving our national infrastructure. I appreciate roadside landscaping, but given today's limited highway dollars, these initiatives are best left to volunteer organizations such as the popular "Adopt-a-Highway" program.

As Congress continues to work towards a sustainable Highway Trust Fund, now is not the time to spend valuable taxpayer dollars on unnecessary "beautification' projects. My bill promotes wise and responsible spending of taxpayer dollars and begins to get federal spending priorities back on the right track.

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