The current legislative session is barely a week old and qualifying is over a year away, but why not go ahead and feed the perpetual campaign monster?
Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) decided to be the first one to declare his intent to become the next Representative from Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District in an interview this past Saturday. He filed his statement of candidacy this past Friday.
This shouldn’t be all that surprising. It’s natural for elected officials to keep an eye out for their next elective opportunity, but the timing for this is…interesting. Senator Beach is currently the Senate Transportation committee chairman. He also created his committee to start fundraising for his congressional run during the session. Oh, and on the same day he creates said committee, he issues a press release calling for federal legislation through the State Senate press office.
Sen. Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta) will sponsor a resolution urging the United States Congress to amend the federal Highway Trust Fund allocation process to allow states to retain 10 cents of the 18.4 cents per gallon of motor fuel tax collected. The 10 cents collected will only be available to use for capital infrastructure projects, such as the construction of new roads.
“For more than twenty years, the federal gas tax allocation rate has not changed while Georgia’s infrastructure needs and transportation methods have,” said Sen. Beach. “As alternative fuel vehicles become more common and cost effective, it is vital that we act as careful stewards of the funds that we do collect. By allowing individual states to retain 10 cents per gallon of motor fuel tax collected for the sole purpose of funding capital infrastructure projects, we are placing a stronger emphasis on local control and opening the door for improved and more efficient roadways throughout our state.”
The Highway Trust Fund was created by the United States Congress in 1956 to assist with the financing of the interstate highway system. Currently, the funds received through the motor fuel tax are deposited into the Highway Trust Fund to finance infrastructure improvement projects nationwide. This resolution would urge the United States Congress to take action and amend the Highway Trust Fund allocation process so as to grant states more autonomy in how those funds may be spent at the state level.
But the Senator isn’t using his office to raise funds. Or something.