Mica okay with temporary transportation extension

Still working on 6-year plan

David Crossley, Aug 30, 11.

US Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will support a temporary extension of the nation’s current transportation plan when Congress returns to session next month, an aide said, according to a story in Transport Topics:

While there are no details at this point, as the committee continues work to complete a six-year surface transportation reauthorization, it will also support an extension of expiring authority as necessary,” Mica spokesman Justin Harclerode told Transport Topics Publishing Group Wednesday.

The current transportation law expired in 2009, but Congress has approved several temporary extensions, which have to be agreed upon by the House and Senate and signed by President Obama.

The current extension expires Sept. 30. Without another extension, the federal government will not be able to collect the 18.4-cent gas tax nor the 24.4-cent diesel tax that support the nation’s transportation system.

In addition, the government will not be authorized to spend money on transportation.

Time is critical because Congress will only be in session 11 days during September, said officials at a Tuesday press conference held in Louisville, Ky., organized by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.