AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is urging Congress to act to prevent a looming shortfall in federal highway dollars that would devastate Maine’s roads budget.
In a letter to Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud, who’s on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, LePage warns that Maine faces a roughly 70 percent cut in highway reimbursements next month.
Michaud, who’s challenging LePage for governor, said in a statement that he’s been working on the issue for months and co-sponsored a bill to fix the problem but it was blocked by Republicans.
“Inaction on both of these matters has both short- and long-term negative effects on transportation infrastructure and construction industry jobs, as well as Maine’s economy as a whole,” wrote LePage. “This is another example of the federal government playing games, which harm Maine’s ability to keep people working and fix our roads and bridges, which are in need of repair after the long winter.”
The federal Highway Trust Fund is how states pay for most major construction projects and could become insolvent later this summer unless Congress acts.
LePage says that he will consider more transportation bonds, if necessary, and suggests that states should be able to collect taxes that typically go to Washington if Congress can’t reach a deal.
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