Tulsa World
By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 1/7/2011 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 1/7/2011 4:38 AM
WASHINGTON - A rule change approved Wednesday by the newly Republican-led House could cost Oklahoma $115 million in road funds, state officials say.
Terri Angier, the chief of media and public relations for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, cited that figure, which she said came from private groups.
"If those numbers are accurate or close to accurate, it certainly is a concern,'' she said Thursday.
"Any time transportation stands to lose any revenues for needed projects, let alone about a 17 percent reduction, it is certainly alarming.''
Critics say the change would negate a rule, reportedly imposed in the late 1990s, that designates solely for transportation projects all revenues raised for the Highway Trust Fund.
If the reports about the new House rule are correct, Angier said, then the Transportation Department does not agree with that approach... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Fri, January 7, 2011
by John Cox