Is this enough

[lunkerslayer]

Hoeven: Senate Passes Six-Year Highway Bill, Measure Includes More than $1.6 Billion for North Dakota Roads
The Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act reauthorizes the nation’s transportation programs for six years. The six-year Senate bill provides $350 billion in contract authority for the 2015-2021 periods. The measure makes up for a lack of highway trust fund revenues by adding about $45 billion in offsets. The bill does not increase the deficit or increase taxes.
Increases Transportation Funding for North Dakota by maintaining the federal aid highway formula structure and increasing the amount each state will receive every year: North Dakota will receive an average of $270 million a year in highway formula funding over six years, an average of $30 million more than the state receives today. Makes completing transportation projects easier by making National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) reforms, cutting red tape. Provides six years of increased funding, giving state and local governments the certainty and stability they need to improve and develop our nation’s transportation infrastructure.

 

[PrairieGhost]

Not sure about that, but part of his email message today I didn't like.

I

introduced the Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act of 2015

, which is designed to prevent retaliatory trade sanctions by Canada and Mexico for our current COOL policies. Retaliatory tariffs won’t just impact meat producers and processors, but will also affect consumers, businesses and jobs. This bill provides a solution that should work for everyone.

I think we should know where our food comes from. Isn't voluntary a step backwards? This looks like it's more for big business importers and could hurt American farmers, not to mention American consumers. I like American beef and choose it before beef from Brazil.

 

[gst]

Prairie, if you wish to know where your food comes from, in every grocery store I have been in there are branded products that identify back to a producer and origin that you can purchase if you wish.

These products are usually higher priced, and are so for a reason because it costs more to identify these products back to an origin.

This used to be one of the fastest growing segments of the beef industry but mandatory COOL took that private company identification to differentiate their product away with a govt mandate.

For years in tracking of consumer purchasing influencers, pricing has ALWAYS been a top factor and ususally the number one factor with consumers. When asked, people do want to know "where their food comes from" but when asked if they will pay more for that information most say no.

So who eats that cost?

The producer.

So the choice is do we let individual producers and companies gain the value of differentiating their products for those consumers willing to pay the difference in cost for that information thru the free market ideology, or do we have the govt mandate identification and have the cost of that mandate passed back to the producer.

Not to mention questioning the wisdom of kicking our top trading partners in exports of American food products in the nuts with a govt mandated trade policy.

 

[dean nelson]

Well the COOL was voted as against international trade agreements and thus why he is pushing for voluntarily. If suddenly people have to pay a chunk more for our beef I'm guessing the farmers will feel that retaliation!

 

[lunkerslayer]

You guys this not about food but about the poor quality of roads in North Dakota. I was wondering if the money for road improvement was enough and do you think this not raising taxes is a bunch of malarky.

 

[PrairieGhost]

Lunker sorry for the highjack. The email I got from Hoven had all those things, but I guess I was only concerned about the one that ticked me off.
I think when it comes to highways we have to ask if the state will get off it's duff and propose enough projects to utilize the money the feds have set aside. My thought is it will be enough to cover the projects the state has in it's plans. I also think that will not be enough to keep up with the demand for new roads, improved roads, and roads that are in dire need of repair. I think our state has grown a lot, but I don't think our legislature is willing to hire more people for the highway department. Those poor suckers are going to get worked into the dirt.

 

[johnr]

Gas tax pays for most of the road repair, or at least is supposed to. Now with gas prices still being high, but much lower than last year I would guess more gas is being sold, meaning more tax should be coming in.

If you are a national politician, most truths are only half at most.

 

[Brian Renville]

Just because it says state taxes aren't going up doesn't mean it's free. The feds have earmarked more and more money for infrastructure every chance they get. Meanwhile so-called necessary infrastructure seems to deteriorate further. Usage and commerce taxes pays for roads not some magic money rain from above.

 

[eyexer]

Lunker sorry for the highjack. The email I got from Hoven had all those things, but I guess I was only concerned about the one that ticked me off.
I think when it comes to highways we have to ask if the state will get off it's duff and propose enough projects to utilize the money the feds have set aside. My thought is it will be enough to cover the projects the state has in it's plans. I also think that will not be enough to keep up with the demand for new roads, improved roads, and roads that are in dire need of repair. I think our state has grown a lot, but I don't think our legislature is willing to hire more people for the highway department. Those poor suckers are going to get worked into the dirt.

the labor workers at the highway dept don't build roads. they fill pot holes and tar cracks. the money will require matching funds I'd bet. And I would bet the state will take very few of the surplus billions to match em.

 

[PrairieGhost]

the labor workers at the highway dept don't build roads. they fill pot holes and tar cracks. the money will require matching funds I'd bet. And I would bet the state will take very few of the surplus billions to match em.

Yes I am sure it's a matching fund deal. I was thinking about the need for more employees in the state office for planning and design so they can develope a budget estimate for the matching funds and open bids.

 

[johnr]

I think we should all run red fuel, that'd learn 'em