Stenberg Denounces Excessive Spending Highway Bills; Challenges Jon Bruning to Take Position

Feb. 20, 2012 - PRLog -- Nebraska State Treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate, Don Stenberg, said today he opposes both the House and Senate versions of the $260 billion American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act currently scheduled for a vote next week in both houses of Congress.

“I oppose both versions of the highway bill that, if passed, would cause more massive deficit spending we simply can’t afford. Instead, Congress should return spending authority where it belongs – to local and state governments,” Stenberg said.

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“Building infrastructure is clearly a legitimate and important function of our government.  However, rather than have Nebraskans send gas taxes to Washington, where our dollars pay a federal bureaucracy, and then come back with a bunch of red tape attached, Congress should let the State of Nebraska keep the gas tax money and let us run our highway program ourselves.  We keep the money here, make our own decisions, and get roads built faster at lower cost without all the federal rules,” he said.

"At a minimum, federal highway spending should be limited to gas tax receipts, so that we do not add to the more than $1 trillion deficit we already have."  Stenberg said.  

“I call on Jon Bruning and Deb Fischer to join me in publicly opposing these bills and telling Washington to start over with a new approach,” he said.

“Also, the time has come to repeal the wasteful Davis-Bacon Act, which forces the government to pay more for federal construction projects than would otherwise be the case," Stenberg said.

“This is a one more example of how I would serve the people of Nebraska as your next United States Senator. I will not support a failed plan just because it’s put forward by Republicans. It’s time for a new brand of leadership in Washington,” he said, “one that will put principle ahead of politics and personal ambition and actually solve our problems.”

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Mr. Stenberg served as Nebraska Attorney General from 1990-2002 and was elected Nebraska State Treasurer in 2010. GOP U.S. Senate nominee in 2000 against Ben Nelson. Genuine, lifelong conservative. Supports 2nd Amendment, pro-life, balanced budget.