House GOP Failure on Highway Bill Shows Incompetence, Dysfunction
Congress' Duct-Tape Approach to Nation’s Roads and Bridges Risks Safety, Jobs
LIUNA is appalled that the U.S. House of Representatives’ radical GOP
wing has succeeded in derailing passage of a long-term Highway Bill
that fully invests in America’s transportation systems and protects good
jobs. After nearly three years of temporary extensions, another 90-day
extension shows incompetence and dysfunction.
With one-in-four bridges in America deemed structurally deficient or
functionally obsolete, House Republicans are forcing Americans to play
Russian roulette every day when they drive to work, pick up groceries,
or travel with their families.
The Highway Bill is the single-largest jobs-creating legislation in
the nation and is mainly how highways, bridges and transit systems are
built and maintained.
House Republicans are failing at a fundamental level in their duty to
come together to ensure passage of legislation desperately needed for
safety and to keep our economy moving in the right direction. Without a
commitment to work out a bipartisan approach to reauthorizing these
important transportation programs, this irresponsible extension only
guarantees that Congress will be in the same position again in three
months. House Republicans need to end the “take it or leave it” style
of governing and pass a bill that can win passage in both chambers and
be signed into law.
LIUNA’s “Emergency Bridge Repair Team” has been on the road for the
last two weeks traveling from John Boehner’s home state of Ohio to
Washington, DC, alerting motorists to the dangers posed by thousands of
unsafe bridges. The truck – which carries a giant roll of duct tape to
highlight House Republicans’ current approach to fixing America’s roads
and bridges – has made stops at several bridges where workers have
attempted to “repair” them with duct tape.
With this campaign, we’re sending a message to Speaker Boehner and
the House of Representatives that it’s time to end the political games.
We need to pass a strong, bipartisan Highway Bill not just to protect
our economy and our bridges – but also our lives.
News Coverage
WDTN (NBC) video – Sending a Message
WLWT-CIN (NBC) (Video) – Dangerous Bridges
WCPO-CIN (ABC) (video) Show and tell outside Speaker John Boehner’s Office
WDTN (NBC) Dayton OH (Video)- Highway Bill
FOX 19 - Labor union to send giant duct-tape truck to Boehner’s office
Dayton Daily News - Giant roll of duct tape headed to Boehner’s offices
Springfield News Sun - Giant roll of duct tape headed to Boehner’s offices
Cincinnati.com - What’s With That Truck With the Giant Roll of Duct Tape?
Middletown Journal – Giant roll of duct tape headed to Boehner’s offices
Dayton Daily News - Union urges passage of highway bill
NPR (WFPL) - Union Launches New Ads Attacking McConnell Over Highway Bill
Politico - Union Bashes GOP Leaders with Gun Imagery
Washington Post - Union Targets GOP Leaders over Transportation Funding
Politico - Key GOP meeting on transport bill today
The Hill - Union targets Boehner, McConnell over stalled highway bill
National Journal - Union Campaign Warns of ‘Bridges Falling Down’
CSPAN 3 - Transportation Bill LIUNA Radio Ad
Roll Call - Union Ads Hit GOP Over Highway Bill
AFL-CIO - LIUNA Says Highway Bill, Not Duct Tape, Is Transportation's Answer
Resources
Politicizing the Highway Bill: Bad for America
LIUNA Letter to U.S. Senate Expressing Support for S. 1813
General President Terry O'Sullivan's Testimony Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Summary of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Bipartisan Proposal (MAP-21)
American Society of Civil Engineers' summary of the economic impact of America's failing transportation infrastructure
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