White House Opposes House Spending Bill’s Truck Size, Weight Provisions
As lawmakers prepare to pass a House transportation spending bill June 10, a recent White House bulletin took issue with provisions in the bill that would allow heavier commercial trucks to operate in three states.
In a statement by the Office of Management and Budget on June 9, the Obama administration stressed that provisions aimed at altering the allowable size and weight of trucks on federal highways should occur after the Department of Transportation releases a study on the issue.
“The administration opposes provisions that serve to weaken highway safety by altering or revising the existing safety regulations for motor carrier operators,” the administration wrote.
Transportation officials have indicated they are readying the conclusion of a congressionally mandated truck size and weight study. A report is expected by mid-November.
The fiscal 2015 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development spending bill would allow state officials to have higher weight limits for trucks if U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin and U.S. Route 78 in Mississippi are designated as part of the interstate system.
The bill also would allow Idaho to have longer combination trucks on its stretch of the interstate system if the trucks have a gross weight of 129,000 pounds or less and are authorized to operate under state law.
But the objections the administration raised are not expected to halt the bill’s progress in the GOP-led House. A final vote on the floor is expected June 10.
If a majority of House members vote favorably on the bill, the legislation would advance to the Senate. Democratic leaders in the Senate have indicated they would debate their legislative version on the floor during the week of June 16.
Before the House resumes debate on its bill, they plan to vote on an amendment offered by Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) that would block an increase in the minimum insurance required for truck and bus companies.
“The bottom line is this, let the small business owners decide what they want to insure above the already required $750,000. This is one more regulation that fundamentally is going to benefit trial lawyers at the expense of small businesses,” Daines said June 9. His amendment drew fierce opposition from several key Democrats.
Overall, the $52 billion House spending bill, as amended, is about $1.2 billion above the fiscal 2014 enacted level and nearly $8 billion below the administration’s fiscal 2015 budget request. It would provide $40.25 billion in formula highway spending for the trust fund, matching the 2014 level. However, transportation policy writers would be required to approve a long-term funding system to shore up the highway account.
The bill would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to prove to Congress a restart restriction rule is of value to the trucking industry, and it rolls back the Obama administration’s efforts in fiscal 2015 to assist states and cities in financing road construction projects. It would mostly prohibit Texas from imposing tolls on its existing interstate system.
On June 9, when the bill reached the floor, a parade of Democrats criticized the legislation’s proposed funding levels for infrastructure projects and housing programs. Several members vowed to vote against the bill.
