In a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, Senator Bob Corker announced his opposition to the Senate highway bill, calling it “generational theft” and “one of the most irresponsible pieces of legislation” considered since he was elected to office. The bill increases spending on highway and transit programs by using 10 years of budget gimmicks to pay for three years of spending, opponents said.
Noting his comments were not directed at any individual or party, Sen. Corker said one of the reasons he ran for office was to deal with our nation’s fiscal issues and expressed disappointment in the failure of Congress to put in place a long-term, sustainable funding mechanism for the Highway Trust Fund.
“I know a lot has been said about this presidential race and what is driving some of the interesting anomalies… People are saying, ‘Well, certain candidates are receiving a lot of attention because of the anger that people have in America at Washington,’” said Corker.
“This bill should be ‘exhibit A’ as to why people in America are angry at Washington, both sides of the aisle, both ends of the Capitol. This is ‘exhibit A’.”
“This is one of the most irresponsible pieces of legislation that I have seen make it this far in the United States Senate,” said Sen. Corker. “This is a bill that should not become law… I intend to vote against it. I intend to encourage others to vote against it. I hope that at some point in my tenure here, we will actually begin to deal with our fiscal issues head on in a direct way that solves them for the long term and doesn’t sweep them under the rug for [future] generations to have to clean up our mess.”