Repairing roads and bridges


Contact: Dave Bond, Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
(405) 962-7671

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Jim Newport
Capitol: (405) 557-7355
Ponca City: (580) 765-3939

Contact: State Rep. Mark Liotta
Capitol: (405) 557-7410
Tulsa: (918) 836-7806

Contact: State Rep. Kevin Calvey
Capitol: (405) 557-7370
Del City: (405) 677-1179

House Republicans Commend Passage of GOP Road & Bridge Plan: Republican
Plan Provides $2.5 Billion Over 15 years

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 6, 2005) - House Republican leaders today praised
the Senate for committee approval of a GOP plan that will repair
Oklahoma's crumbling roads and bridges.

"We're excited that our plan to fix roads and bridges without raising
taxes is moving forward," said Rep. Jim Newport, the author of House
Bill 1218. The bill passed the full Senate Appropriations Committee
today. "House Republicans stepped forward with a true funding solution
for roads and bridges in Oklahoma. Now it appears the Senate agrees with
our fiscally-responsible approach."

The House first passed the plan in HB 1218 weeks ago. The total
Republican package offers nearly $2.5 billion in new dollars for road
and bridge maintenance and construction over 15 years - without raising
taxes. The House Republican plan for roads and bridges is nearly twice
the dollar figure of an alternate Democrat plan announced late last
week.

"We're pleased that House Bill 1218 is receiving favorable consideration
in the Senate," said Rep. Mark Liotta (R-Tulsa) Assistant Majority Floor
Leader and Chair of the House A&B Subcommittee on Government and
Transportation. "Now, it's time to take the next step. The entire Senate
should now pass House Bill 1218, because it's the most comprehensive
solution for fixing our crumbling roads and bridges without raising
taxes or cutting education."

House Bill 1218 takes portions of the state's vehicle fees that have in
the past gone into Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund and directs the
dollars toward road and bridge maintenance and construction. Revenue
going toward education and other state budget needs would remain
untouched. As part of the entire Republican plan, House GOP leaders will
fund debt service obligations for the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation.

"Oklahomans pay motor vehicle and fuel taxes, and they understand that
the money should go toward making our roads and bridges better," said
Rep. Newport (R-Ponca City). "This offers a solution without burdening
taxpayers more."

House Republicans said because HB 1218 does not raise taxes, it will
also provide room to offer a permanent tax cut for Oklahomans.

House Bill 1547 passed a Senate committee yesterday. It permanently cuts
the state income tax from the current 6.65 percent down to 6.25 percent.
"In a year when we have a half-billion dollar surplus, we should be
sending back some of those dollars to hardworking Oklahoma taxpayers,"
said Rep. Kevin Calvey (R-Del City) author of HB 1547. "Even Governor
Henry has agreed with us that some of the budget surplus should be sent
back to the people."

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