A former Peoria Congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation says the country is one big pothole. Republican Ray LaHood spoke to an economics class Thursday at Bradley University on how building a strong infrastructure can boost the U.S. economy.
LaHood says the nation’s bridges, roads and railways continue to deteriorate as Congress routinely fails to approve a multi-year transportation bill. He says people need to elect lawmakers willing to increase the gas tax to pay for infrastructure improvements.
“We’re just kind of muddling along now on an extension of a two-year bill and we should have a multi-year, multi-funded bill to really get America moving again,” said LaHood.
LaHood says making money available for infrastructure improvements could create much-needed jobs. He says the gas tax hasn’t been raised since 1993.
LaHood is an Honorary Senior Distinguished Fellow with the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley.