House Panel Advances Ryan Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON — A House plan put forth by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would mandate that transfers made to the Highway Trust Fund — a main source of federal aid to states for road and transit programs that is months away from running out of money — would have to come from savings in accounts elsewhere in the budget.

The committee voted 22-16 on April 2 to send a Republican budget proposal to full House, where it likely will pass next week. The proposal is mostly a symbolic gesture because Democrats, who control the Senate, are not expected to consider it.

Ryan’s resolution calls for $5.1 trillion in cuts to federal spending over the next 10 years. It would adhere to the provisions in last year’s budget agreement between Ryan and his Senate counterpart, Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Since 2008, lawmakers have maintained the fund by transferring money from general revenue funds because the federal 18.4-cent gasoline tax has not been sufficient to cover rising costs of infrastructure repair and maintenance. Transportation leaders are tasked with finding a way to raise money for the fund, but they have so far not advanced a plan to do so.

Ryan’s plan also proposes a pilot program to allow states to opt out of the federal gas tax and forgo federal allocations. It also calls for ending Amtrak operating subsidies, reducing funding for the Transportation Security Agency and phasing out subsidies under the Essential Air Service program.