DeMint proposes perfect solution

...which means there is absolutely no way this is going to pass. It makes too much sense.

Sen. Jim DeMint has introduced the Transportation Empowerment Act, which basically removes the federal government from the decision making process on state road projects.

DeMint's bill would basically cut the federal gas tax from 18.3 cents to 3.7 cents, which would pay for up keep of federal highways and roads on federal land. Currently all the other money (14.6 cents on every dollar spent on gas) is being sent back to states for projects, some of which are gigantic pieces of pork - Bridge to Nowhere anyone. States could then keep the rate the same or adjust it depending on their particular needs.

I love this quote by DeMint:

The national interstate highway system was completed years ago, and it’s time for us to empower states to make their own transportation decisions. The highway funding process has lost its focus, with the majority of dollars going to earmarks for state and local projects that serve no national purpose. States send their road funds to Washington, and then have to fight tooth and nail to get a portion of those dollars back. Clearly, states better understand their residents’ needs than bureaucrats and politicians in Washington and states should make these decisions.

This makes perfect sense and I see no reason why any objective person would oppose this, but it removes power from the hands of Congress. This will make it extremely difficult to pass.

Too many senators and representatives use pork barrell transportation projects to buy off votes back home - how many bridges in WV are named after Sen. Byrd? When they no longer have the power to "bring home" these projects, they might actually have to listen to voters instead of bribe them. They won't stand for it.

But this is just another reason why I love at least one of my SC Senators - He fights to remove power from himself and give it back to me.