The Alva Review-Courier
02/24/11
SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma could dramatically increase the speed and efficiency of road and bridge projects across the state if not for cumbersome federal regulations like those that require environmental impact statements, Republican Gov. Mary Fallin and her transportation secretary told a panel of federal lawmakers Thursday.
Fallin and Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley testified before three members of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The panel is conducting similar hearings across the country to receive input before reauthorization of a federal bill to fund roads and highways.
"The backlog of transportation needs in Oklahoma is large and requires a consistent, long-term federal investment strategy," Fallin told the committee in a meeting at the Oklahoma City Community College. "It is our hope that such a strategy will include flexible federal funding, free of unfunded mandates or rigid 'one-size-fits-all' requirements on states."
The committee, on which Fallin served during her two terms in Congress, includes her successor from Oklahoma's 5th District — Republican U.S. Rep. James Lankford. Other members at Thursday's hearing were U.S. Reps. John Mica, R- Fla., the chairman of the committee, and John Duncan, R- Tenn... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Thu, February 24, 2011
by John Cox