Sen. Inhofe Backs Higher Highway Spending, But Not Fuel Tax Hike
New Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) says the federal highway program needs increased funding in the reauthorization bill due this year, but Inhofe says he doesn't support boosting the fuel tax to raise that additional revenue.
Speaking to reporters after the Jan. 29 organizational meeting of his panel, Inhofe said that passing the successor to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century is his top priority. The environment committee will take the lead in the Senate for the highway portion of that bill.