Voinovich's persistence paying off in the Senate

If the full Senate goes along with its Environment and Public Works Committee -- which it is expected to do -- and the House of Representatives follows suit -- which isn't a certainty -- Ohio will receive an additional $2.1 billion in funding for its highway system over the next six years.
In addition, the rate of return on federal gasoline taxes that are collected at the state level and sent to Washington will increase from 90.5 percent to 95 percent by 2009.
These provisions in the highway reauthorization bill are the result of U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, turning the spotlight on an issue that has preoccupied him for five years: The inequitable distribution of federal money for highway construction and other related projects.
During his eight-year tenure as governor, Voinovich found out that being a "donor" state meant never getting your fair share of federal gasoline taxes.
But now, if the changes in the distribution formula that he and 16 other senators from "donor" states inserted in the new six-year highway funding bill make it through the legislative process, Ohio's rate of return on gasoline taxes will increase to 95 percent.
It's no small accomplishment, considering that when Voinovich went to Congress in 1998, the minimum guaranteed funding level was 80 percent of the state's share of tax contributions to the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. The senator immediately lobbied colleagues to change the guaranteed funding level to 90 percent, and then pushed for another increase, which raised the minimum to 90.5 percent.
Traffic volume
Why is this important? Consider the following facts: Ohio has the nation's 10th largest highway network; fifth highest volume in traffic; fourth largest interstate highway network; and second largest inventory of bridges in the country. And yet, sparsely populated states like Montana and North Dakota have been receiving a greater return from the Highway Trust Fund than Ohio.
The highway reauthorization bill that was reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee increases the rate of return to 95 percent by 2009. Thus, Ohio would receive $300 million more over the next six years than it would have under the existing formula.
"Transportation systems are critical to Ohio's economic success," Voinovich, who serves on the committee, said after the legislation was sent to Senate floor. "Our ability to safely and quickly move raw materials and finished goods throughout the state and to the rest of the country helps create jobs and bring prosperity to communities."
We applaud the senator for his persistence and urge members of Ohio's delegation in the House to ensure that the House version of the highway bill contains the funding increase for Ohio that Voinovich secured and the higher rate of return on gasoline taxes.
This is not a partisan issue. Democratic congressional districts stand to benefit just as much as Republican districts. Indeed, the Mahoning Valley could well see the resurrection of a long-discussed major project, the Hubbard Expressway in Youngstown. The state has shelved the project because of a lack of funds. A portion of the additional $2.1 billion Ohio stands to get over the next six years in highway funds certainly could be funneled to the Valley.
Ohio's delegation in the House must show the same commitment to this issue that Voinovich has demonstrated in the Senate.