News analysis: US road subsidies cuts would hit states, not investors
Nossaman Infrastructure attorney Edward V.A. Kussy was quoted in the Infrastructure Investor news analysis "US road subsidies cuts would hit states, not investors." The analysis discusses legislation introduced by Senators Grassley and Bingaman that would eliminate an indirect subsidy in the form of a depreciation allowance for highways that have been leased.
The analysis quotes Mr. Kussy, former deputy chief counsel to the Federal Highways Administration, as saying, "The legislation fails to recognize that the roads at issue are still public roads that must be maintained for public benefit . . . prisons, garbage collection, transit services, and many other public services are accomplished by states and local governments by contract. Why should states be penalized if they provide highway services by contract? This is the wrong time to be limiting or discouraging states from adopting particular approaches to meeting their transportation responsibilities."