Would have, should have, could have — Rep. McCarthyês plans would have included a 6-year highway bill, if he became Speaker
If House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had become House Speaker, which isnêt happening, he said he would have passed a six-year highway bill so we donêt wait 10 years when we approve a road to be built. He made the promise on MSNBCês Morning Joe when it seemed a near-certainty that he would become the next Speaker. In the face of conservative Republicans challenging McCarthy, he opted this week to pass on the position of Speaker.
Like most members of Congress, McCarthy doesnêt favor a gas tax. He prefers a tax on overseas corporate profits as a way to fund infrastructure, an idea with bipartisan approval that has been discussed for months. But fellow Republican Paul Ryan (Wis.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee where the discussions have been centered, recently acknowledged that the talks remain stalled and told the Transportation Committee to go ahead and pass a highway bill without a funding mechanism. Highway funding runs out October 29.
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