Rep. Jolly: Should Users Pay for Infrastrucure?

(CNSNews) - "Is it a responsibility of the entire country to pay for our infrastructure, or should we shift the burden on those who use it?" Rep. Dave Jolly (R-Fla.) asked on Tuesday.

Jolly, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was talking about looming shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for the nation's transportation projects through the federal tax on fuel.

A caller to CSPAN's "Washington Journal" asked Jolly about user fees: "I drive a lot on the highways, north and south," the caller said. "Why don't we tax the people who are trying to use our markets, to subsidize the roads they're tearing up...Let these countries that are using our markets help pay for this burden."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Jolly said.

"What you touched on -- paying for ports, dredging, borders, etc., brings up the concept of user fees. Right, who is using our infrastructure? Is it an international company or national? And should they be paying for it? So, who should pay for it? Is it a responsibility of the entire country to pay for our infrastructure, or should we shift the burden more on those who use it?

"What's a user fee?" Jolly continued. "Well, a toll is a perfect example. You know, as you've seen an increase in tolling, it is the people who use the road who then pay for it. Should we do that with all of our transportation nodes? I don't know that that's the final answer, but you're seeing a lot of people talk more about user fees, particularly at the state level, as they continue to look for revenue sources to pay for the infrastructure that we need."

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