[Blindtlk] H.R. 3864 the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Financing Act

[Steven Johnson]

All,

I am very surprised that we have not heard anything on this list or any
other NFB list as this bill, which I read last Friday after it was marked up
through the House Ways and Means Committee, is to go into effect on April 1,
2012.  This, will have nothing less than dire consequences for public
transportation as we know it.  I have been apprised of this through our
County's Planning Committee as I am a county employee, but am wondering why
this legislation is not being discussed.  Here is what I know so far.

 

HR3864:  Effective date of this is targeted for April 1.  I am checking to
see what will need to be done, but this is not good news; much worse than I
ever imagined.  And this is a legitimate bill in the House right now through
the Ways and Means committee which just marked it up this past Friday, Feb.
3.  

 

Here is a note I received from our planning committee:

 La Crosse Area Transportation Planning Committee

The House Ways and Means Committee has passed a bill that will decimate
transit. Transit 

will no longer receive funding from the fuel tax, but must now rely on the 

general fund for a one-time, lump-sum distribution to last until October of
2018 

($40B over 6 years for ALL transit systems). We will see services cut if not


eliminated. RESULT: The transit dependent will lose their jobs because they 

can't get to work; congestion will increase as more people are forced to
drive; 

air quality will suffer with increased congestion; and, crashes and
fatalities 

will go up with higher traffic volumes. This is really bad for Wisconsin
because 

the state doesn't allow municipalities to generate revenue for transit 

purposes.

 

This is just the impact on our transportation here in WI, and I for one, am
quite worried about this as it appears this will be moved through very
quickly.  

 

So, with this subject in mind, does anyone know where the NFB stands on
this, or even if they are aware of this?  2.  If anyone is at Washington
Seminar, has this been talked about at all as this issue, will have a more
direct negative impact on us as blind people than the other 3 items being
discussed.

 

Regards,

 

Steve Johnson