April 1, 1998 - U.S. Representative Adam Smith voted against a $218 billion transportation spending bill today, saying it was fiscally irresponsible and a return to the excessive spending policies of the 1980's that created a $5 trillion national debt.

"Just a few months ago, we found out that the budget will most likely be balanced this year, for the first time in a generation," said Smith. "Instead of sticking to last year's Balanced Budget Act and keeping our promise to the American people, some of my colleagues are willing to take the first step towards unraveling the budget agreement."

The Balanced Budget Act enacted last year sets spending for the transportation bill, known as the Building Efficient Surface Transportation and Equity (BESTEA), at $183 billion. However, Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster increased the allocation to $218 without specifying from where the extra $34 billion would come.

"I am firmly committed to investing in transportation and infrastructure," Smith said. "One hundred eighty billion dollars is not chump change. I'm willing to spend that much, and I would even consider investing a bit more, if I knew where the money was coming from."

Smith points out that major organizations dedicated to fiscal responsibility oppose the bill, including the Concord Coalition, National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

"This bill is a glaring example of politics as usual," said Smith. "Members of Congress love to talk about how important balancing the budget is, but are all too often willing to look the other way when legislation costs too much and is filled with pork. It's exactly how we got into debt in the first place."

Smith voted for an amendment to delay consideration of the massive transportation bill until after the budget resolution was completed. "Before increasing the transportation allocation by $34 billion, we should first write the budget and figure out if we can afford it," Smith explained. 

However, the amendment failed by a 105-312 vote.