Elaine L. Chao was just confirmed yesterday to serve as President Trump’s Transportation Secretary. Chao is married to arch-neocon Mitch McConnell and served as assistant Secretary of Transportation under George H.W. Bush, as well as Labor Secretary for 8 years under George W. Bush.
On January 11, 2017, during preliminary Senate confirmation hearings, Senator Deb Fischer questioned Chao about infrastructure and how America is going to pay for all of President Trump’s lofty infrastructure projects.
Fischer begins by pointing out that the highway trust fund faces a $107 billion dollar shortfall over next 5 years.
Chao states that it is imperative for the government to come up with an additional way to fund the highway infrastructure. because the gasoline tax is no longer cutting it. Note that these politicians never want to eliminate the gas tax, they just want to increase it and add tolls, track driver miles, and. other such revenue schemes.
Never does the federal government want to cut foreign aide or stop sending untold billions to countries like Israel. Never do they want to find out where the missing trillions are that disappear regularly fron the Pentagon and military budgets. But you can be your last dime that they want to stick it to the little guy, the average American taxpayer, (if they’re fortunate enough to have a job). Mark my word, the government is scheming to introduce either a new user-fee, toll roads, miles-driven fees, as well as keeping and increasing fuel taxes on both private individuals and commercial drivers. This will surely result in increased costs of goods at the retail level.
LibertyFight has reported on this issue for many years, most recently on November 23, 2016. Excerpt:
Beware Of Trump Tolls – Pundits Praise Trump’s $1 Trillion Dollar ‘Public-Private Partnership’ Infrastrcture Repair Plan; Involves Tolls, User-Fees On America’s HighwaysTrump advisers Peter Navarro and Wilbur Ross released a ten-page white paper last month outlining the details of Trump’s infrastructure revenue plan.
So essentially drivers are going to be charged and taxed out the ass to drive on roads which we have already paid for and which the fuel tax is supposed to be allotted for. As a small business owner in the transportation industry, I highly oppose such a plan. It would be a giant tax increase, disastrous to the very working man and small business owners who Trump appealed to during his campaign.
LibertyFight.com has reported extensively on this issue in the past, several GOP and Democrat Congress members have called for a user fee system (tolls) in addition to retaining and increasing the fuel tax charges we pay each time we fill up our tanks. [See also CEO, Skull & Bones Member, Urges Obama to Pass a 15-Cent-Per-Mile Fuel Tax Hike.]
In Los Angeles, they have already begun turning freeways which we paid for into toll roads while continuing to charge us the fuel tax for maintenance of those very roads!! [See my 2012 article Carpool lanes in Los Angeles turned into toll roads: State takes federal cash and fleeces motorists, also featured on Infowars.com a and DavidIcke.com .]
- Also, if you’d like to know how all these absurd federal regulations affect real business owners: A Few Notes On Trump’s Pick Of Swamp-Dweller Neocon “Elaine Chao” As Head Of Dept. Of Transportation From A Real (Non-PC) Trucker.
- You can see our Trucking archives here
01:01:43Senator Deb Fischer: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. WELCOME, MADAM SECRETARY. IT IS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU TODAY AND I WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NOMINATION. I APPRECIATED YOU COMING IN FOR A PRIVATE MEETING THAT WE HAD IN OUR OFFICE AND I THOUGHT WE COVERED A VARIETY OF ISSUES AND I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW OF THOSE TODAY WITH YOU. OF COURSE, ON EVERYBODY’S MIND IS THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND. WHEN YOU HEAR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT SPEAK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, PUTTING MONEY INTO INFRASTRUCTURE, PART OF THAT I WOULD ASSUME WOULD GO TO THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND. WE ARE LOOKING AT A SHORTFALL OF $107 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF THE F.A.S.T. ACT. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ADDRESSING THAT LONG-TERM SOLVENCY OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY TRUST FUND?
01:02:30
Elaine L. Chao:THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND IS IN BAD SHAPE. BECAUSE OF A DECLINING MILES — BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED MILES PER GALLON THAT CARS NORMALLY GET, THE GAS TAX, WHICH IS 90% OF THE FUNDING OF THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND, IS NO LONGER — IS NOT AS LUCRATIVE AS IT USED TO BE, AND THE FUND ANNUALLY SPENDS $47 BILLION, TAKES IN $37 BILLION. THERE’S A $10 BILLION DEFICIT EVERY YEAR. WE CAN’T MAKE THAT UP ON VOLUME. SO THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE. AND THE PAY FORS FOR ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL ARE ALL CHALLENGING AND ALL HAVE THEIR PARTICULAR CHAMPIONS AND ALSO DETRACTORS. SO ONCE AGAIN, IF CONFIRMED, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND ALSO THE CONGRESS ON THIS NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY AMONG THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THIS PRESIDENT-ELECT.
>> THANK YOU. THIS —
Cbao: AND IT WILL GO BANKRUPT BY 2021 IF WE DON’T DO SOMETHING, SO WE ALL KNOW THIS.
Fischer: YES. THIS IS AN ISSUE I WORKED ON IN MY STATE AS A STATE SENATOR. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX ON SOME POLICY ISSUES AND IN A COUPLE WEEKS WE’LL BE PUTTING FORWARD A PROPOSAL HERE TO START THAT CONVERSATION ON HOW WE’RE GOING TO BE FUNDING OUR HIGHWAYS. ANOTHER THING THAT IDENTIFY WORKED ON IN THIS COMMITTEE, SECRETARY CHAO, IS ADDRESSING AND REDUCE THE GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS THAT WE FACE AND DURING THE LAST CONGRESS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SURFACE TRANSPORTATION THAT I CHAIRED HELD NEARLY 20 HEARINGS AND EVENTS ON HOW BEST THAT WE CAN KEEP GOODS MOVING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND DO SO SAFELY. SO I WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE LANGUAGE IN THE F.A.S.T. ACT TO REFORM THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S REGULATORY PROCESS BY MAKING IT MORE TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE AND OPEN TO INPUT FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS. I WOULD ASK YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN KEEP PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT MOVING ACROSS OUR SYSTEM AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO APPROACH LOOKING AT REGULATIONS THAT MANY CONSIDER TO BE A BURDEN ON HOW WE ARE MOVING GOODS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY? Chao: YOU AND I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION DURING OUR COURTSY SYCOURTESY MEETING WHICH I’M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU GRANTED. MANY OF THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IN YOUR STATE. AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR FROM YOUR CAREER IN THE PAST AS PART OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THAT YOU ARE QUITE AN EXPERT ON ALL OF THESE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, YOURSELF. SO IT WAS A REAL BENEFIT FOR ME TO LEARN FROM YOU AND HEAR YOUR POINTS AND ALSO SEE YOUR PASSION FOR PROTECTING INTEREST OF YOUR STATE. WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? I’M SO SORRY.
Fischer: HOW ARE WE GOING TO — Chao: OH, REGULATIONS. SORRY. SO ON THE REGULATIONS, I THINK THE GREAT CHALLENGE FOR ALL REGULATORS IS TO BALANCE THE ULTIMATE GOAL, OBVIOUSLY, OF SAFETY, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE ENACTED ARE BASED ON SOUND SCIENCE, ON TRUE DATA, AND THAT THE UNDERLYING ANALYSIS IS SOLID. THAT IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE PROTECT CONSUMERS AND PASSENGERS.
>> RIGHT. I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. ANOTHER POINT, WE’RE LOOKING AT SHORTAGES WITH REGARDS TO COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVERS, WITH AIRLINE PILOTS, AND THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT NOT JUST ON OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, BUT ON OUR COUNTRY AS A WHOLE WHEN WE’RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE, WHEN WE’RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE AND SEEK PRODUCTS AND SEE COMMERCE GROW, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT AS WELL. MY TIME IS UP, BUT I THANK YOU FOR BEING OPEN TO ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT YOUR PORTFOLIO IS GOING TO ENCOMPASS WHEN YOU TAKE OVER THE DEPARTMENT AS THE NEW SECRETARY.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR FISCHER.
Here is the video. Go to 1:01:30 where Sen. Deb Fischer begins.
00:17:55 Rand Paul M.D. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING TO INTRODUCE A FRIEND, A DEAR FRIEND AND A FELLOW KENTUCKIAN, SECRETARY ELAINE CHAO FOR HER NOMINATION HEARING TO BE AS SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. I’D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME HER FAMILY, DR. JAMES CHAO RENOWNED IN HIS OWN RIGHT, MY WIFE KELLY HAVE COME TO KNOW ELAINE WELL SICHBS OUR FIRST ELECTION SIX YEARS AGO AND WE WERE BOTH GRATEFUL FOR HER FRIENDSHIP AS WE TRANSITIONED TO PUBLIC SERVICE. WE BOTH ADMIRE HER FOR HER THOUGHTFULNESS, INTEGRITY, INTELLECT AND SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY. HER RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND LEADERSHIP MAKE HER A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL CANDIDATE. PRIOR TO HER NOMINATION, SECRETARY CHAO HAD SERVED THIS NATION UNDER THREE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS. MOST NOTABLY AS THE LONGEST SERVING SECRETARY OF LABOR UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. AS AIM GRANT TO THIS COUNTRY, HER SUCCESSES ARE NOT ONLY A TESTAMENT TO THE AMERICAN DREAM BUT THE UNBRIDLED SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY ALSO. HAVE HAVING EMIGRATED FROM TAIWAN AT THE AGE OF WITH NO BACKGROUND IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, SHE WOULD COPY ALL THE WORDS OF HER TEACHERS ON THE BLACK BOARD SO HER PARENTS COULD GO OVER THEM DAILY WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HOME TO IMPROVE HER ENGLISH SKILLS. HER FATHER WORKED THREE JOBS TO SUPPORT SIX CHILDREN BUT THEY ALWAYS EXPRESSED OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE. THE FAMILY WAS TRULY GRATEFUL TO BE IN AMERICA. AND DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THEY SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS NATION HAD TO OFFER. SECRETARY CHAO’S PARENTS’ BELIEF IN EDUCATION, SERVICE AND HARD WORK SET THE FOUNDATION FOR HER SUCCESS. WHICH INCLUDES A DEGREE FROM HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL AND 36 HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES FROM INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. BUT FOR THE CHAO FAMILY, EDUCATION IS NEVER THE END. IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING. SECRETARY CHAO’S EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS INCLUDES NOT ONLY HER PREVIOUS STINT AS SECRETARY OF LABOR BUT ALSO DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION, DEPUTY MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR, AND DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DIRECTOR OF THE PEACE CORPS, IT’S A LONG RESUME. WE WOULD ALL WISH TO HAVE SUCH A RESUME. SHE WAS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WAY, AS WELL. I HAVE NO DOUBT SHE WOULD DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THAT HER INTEGRITY WILL LEAD HER TO GREAT HEIGHTS AS THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SECRETARY CHAO AND OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY. I URGE THE COMMITTEE’S FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION OF MY FRIEND, ELAINE CHAO. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR PAUL. THANK YOU, SENATOR McCONNELL AND AT THIS POINT, WE WILL ASK OUR NOMINEE SECRETARY ELAINE CHAO TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND OFFER HER OPENING STATEMENT.
00:21:16 Elaine L. Chao THUNE, RANKING MEMBER NELSON, — CHAIRMAN THUNE, RANKING MEMBER NELSON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY HOME STATE SENATORS FROM THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY FOR THEIR KIND INTRODUCTIONS. I’M VERY HONORED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SENATOR RAND PAUL AND I’LL BE WORKING TO LOCK IN THE MAJORITY LEADER’S SUPPORT TONIGHT OVER DINNER. I’M SPECIALLY DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE MY FATHER, DR. JAMES S. KREFRLG CHAO WHO ALONG WITH MY MOTHER RUTH MULAN CHAO IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING THAT MY SISTERS AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE. LIKE SO MANY OTHERS AS YOU’VE HEARD, MY FATHER LEFT EVERYTHING FAMILIAR BEHIND TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR OUR FAMILY. MY MOTHER, TWO SISTERS AND I ENDURED THREE LONG YEARS OF SEPARATION BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO JOIN HIM TRAVELING FROM ASIA TO AMERICA VIA A CARGO SHIP ON AN OCEAN JOURNEY THAT LASTED 37 DAYS. THERE WERE MANY CHALLENGES DURING THOSE EARLY DAYS. LIVING IN AN APARTMENT IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, LEARNING ENGLISH AND ADAPTING TO A COMPLETELY FOREIGN CULTURE. BUT MY PARENTS’ LOVE, OPTIMISM, FAITH, AND DILIGENCE KEPT US TOGETHER. IF I CAN ASK MY FATHER TO STAND UP, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. STAND UP. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I’M ALSO VERY PLEASED TO INTRODUCE ONE OF MY SISTERS, MAY CHAO AND HER TWIN DAUGHTERS MIRANDA AND JESSICA FROM NEW YORK CITY. MAE IS THE DAUGHTERS WHOSE NAME SYMBOLIZES AMERICA. MY MOTHER WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT WITH MAE WHEN MY FATHER LEFT FOR AMERICA AND HE DID NOT SEE HIS THIRD DAUGHTER MAE UNTIL SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND MAE, IF I CAN ASK YOU AND THE GIRLS TO STAND UP. [ APPLAUSE ] AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW GORDON IS HERE AND THAT’S IT FOR THE FAMILY. MY EXECUTIVE CAREER IN GOVERNMENT BEGAN AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DURING MY CAREER, I’VE WILL THE EXTENSIVE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING LARGE, COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS AS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, DIRECTOR OF THE PEACE CORPS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED WAY OF AMERICA, AND THE U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR. IN EACH OF THESE POSITIONS, MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO HELP OTHERS ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES IN MAINSTREAM AMERICA AND BUILD BETTER LIVES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES BY SUPPORTING POSES THAT FOSTER JOB CREATION AND WORKFORCE COMPETITIVENESS. OUR COUNTRY’S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE UNDERPINNING OF A WORLD CLASS ECONOMY. ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FLEXIBLE AND DYNAMIC IN THE WORLD. IT IS A KEY FACTOR IN PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH WHICH HAS PROVIDED MILLIONS OF HARD WORKING AMERICANS WITH A STANDARD OF LIVING THAT IS THE ENVY OF THE WORLD. AND IT HAS PROVIDED US WITH UNPRECEDENTED MOBILITY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY. AND YET, TODAY, THESE GAINS ARE JEOPARDIZED BY AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, GROWING CONGESTION WHY, INCREASED FATALITIES ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND A FAILURE TO KEEP PACE WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THE CHANCE TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT AT THIS PIVOTAL HISTORIC TIME IS A GREAT HONOR. FIRST AND FOREMOST SAFETY WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. REGULATORY DECISIONS SHOULD BE ROOTED IN ANALYSIS DERIVED FROM SOUND SCIENCE AND DATA WITH THE RISK-BASED ANALYSIS THAT PREVENTS ACCIDENTS BEFORE THEY OCCUR. AND CONSIDERS CAN BOTH THE COST AND THE BENEFITS OF NEW RULE MAKINGS. RAILROADS, AIRLINES, AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS, PIPELINE OPERATORS, TRANSIT AUTHORITIES AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIAL SHIPPERS SHOULD BE DEPLOYING COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES TO SAFETY. THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO WORK WITH STATES TO ENSURE THAT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL FUNDING ARE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND PROJECT DELIVERY. OUR RAIL AND AIR TRAFFIC OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO AMERICA’S COMPETITIVENESS NEED TO BE CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS COMMITTEE ON FAA’S TRANSITION TO 21st CENTURY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES KNOWN AS NEFGEN. EIGHT MONTHS REMAIN BEFORE FAA REAUTHORIZATION REAUTHORIZATION. SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO START THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS SOON TO PROVIDE AIR TRAVELERS WITH A SYSTEM SECOND TO NONE. >>> ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE IS TO UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN OUR NATION’S INFRASTRUCTURE. AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE DETAILS OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT’S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN HAD, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL PROGRAM FUNDING AND OTHER INNOVATIVE FINANCING TOOLS SUCH AS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. IN ORDER TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE ESTIMATED TRILLIONS IN CAPITAL THAT EQUITY FIRMS, PENSION FUNDS, AND ENDOWMENTS CAN INVEST, THESE PARTNERSHIPS MUST BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE WITH A BOLD NEW VISION. AND AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS AND TO CREATE A MIX OF PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, THAT PROVIDE THE GREATEST COST BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT ALL. IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE WAY WE BUILD AND DELIVER PROJECTS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HOW MUCH WE INVEST. AND WE WANT TO SEEK YOUR ADVICE IN IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING UNNECESSARY BOTTLENECKS IN THE PROCESSES THAT GOVERN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES THAT WE OVERSEE. AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN RURAL AMERICA AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES THAT MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS FACE. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, WE ALSO HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE EXCITING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFORMING TRAVEL AND COMMERCE. THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS DRIVING THIS INNOVATION. THEY’RE WORKING WITH CITIES AND STATES TO DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. DRONES ARE POISED TO BECOME A MAJOR COMMERCIAL FORCE. AND THE FEDERAL ROLE IN THESE SECTORS IS STILL VERY MUCH IN ITS INFANCY. WE WANT TO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO POSITION THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A CATALYST FOR SAFE, EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES, NOT AS AN IMPLEMENT — AND NOT AS AN IMPEDIMENT. IN SUMMARY, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN MODERNIZING OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. STRENGTHENING OUR NATION’S COMPETITIVENESS AND IMPROVEING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO REBUILD, REFURBISH AND REVITALIZE AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE SO OUR ECONOMY CAN CONTINUE TO GROW,00:29:49 John Thune CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR AMERICA’S WORKING FAMILIES AND ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU. AND NOW I’LL BE PLEASED TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS…00:30:36 Elaine L. Chao BETWEEN THE BRANKS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. NEVERTHELESS, THESE HEARINGS GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSCORE THAT POINT. IF CONFIRMED, WILL YOU PLEDGE… 00:36:07 Bill Nelson RANKING MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES VERY SHORTLY. I’M JUST GOING TO ASK ONE QUESTION. I WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR MEMBERS TO ASK THIS PLETHORA…
00:36:47 Elaine L. Chao OTHER SIDE, THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OPPOSES PRIVATIZATION. YOU WANT TO OFFER ANY OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? >> I LIKE TO GET CONFIRMED FIRST. …
00:39:10 Roger Wicker >> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR NELSON. SENATOR WICKER. >> MADAM SECRETARY, I THINK MOST MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE ARE DELIGHTED THAT…
00:41:17 Elaine L. Chao ENSURE THAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD ENJOY STRONG BIPARTISAN AND BY CAMERA SUPPORT IN CONGRESS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THESE IMPORTANT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL… 00:44:39
You can see the entire transcript here:
– See more at: http://libertyfight.com/2017/Feb/chao-DOT-bankrupt.html#sthash.ZsMxTQgC.dpuf
I don’t think there has been much spent on infrastructure in the past 40 years, so where did all the money go? Off to other projects like wars and guns. Duh! Now they need to refill the stolen funds. Piss on them and the horse they rode in on.