In the 2014 midterm elections, the GOP rode a wave of discontent with President Obama to win big gains at every level of government. Republicans picked up nine seats in the Senate, 12 seats in the House (possibly 13 by the time you read this), three governorships (including two in the traditionally blue states of Maryland and Massachusetts), and control of 11 state legislative chambers.
On September 15, 2014, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX25) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR03) introduced the American Concrete Pump Tax Fairness Act of 2014 (HR 5474). This bill rights the wrong of the 2004 JOBS Act that indirectly prevented concrete pumps from maintaining their previous fuel tax exemption by applying a 7500 miles per year prerequisite.
Since 2004, concrete pump owners have been required to pay federal excise taxes on 100 percent of the fuel they consume, even though on average, more than 55 percent of it is used in offhighway, jobsite operations.
As in most other places, the winter of 2014 has been long, damp and cold for Washington D.C., and the first green shoots of springtime are a welcome sight.
At the ACPA board meeting earlier this fall, several members asked me to explain the situation with the Highway Trust Fund (HTF)—specifically why it always seems like it’s on the verge of bankruptcy these days.
