Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/96778
Here We Go Again Politics Local Infrastructure Ballot Initiatives Several state and local measures across the country went before voters this past election to help supplement the federal funding shortfalls in surface and water infrastructure investment. Location Measure Summary Memphis, Tenn. Gas Tax A 1 cent per gallon gas tax increase to support the Memphis Area Transit Authority Arizona Sales Tax A permanent 1 cent sales tax increase, with 10 percent for highway projects Arkansas Sales Tax A half-cent sales tax increase to fund $1.8 billion in highway improvements over ten years Harris County, Texas Sales Tax An extension of the current diversion of 25 percent of Metro's one cent sales tax for construction and maintenance of surface transportation Alameda County, Calif. Los Angeles County, Calif. Sales Tax Sales Tax A half-cent sales tax increase to raise $7.8 billion over 30 years for transit, road, bicycle, and pedestrian projects A 30-year extension of a half-cent sales tax for infrastructure projects Result With the 2012 election behind us, it's time to take a look at what the political landscape holds for 2014. One-third of the Senate will again be up for grabs, and the Democrats again face a far more perilous path to the majority than do Republicans. Democrats hold 20 of the 33 seats up for re-election. Of those, just six are considered safe. On the GOP side, all 13 of the seats the party must defend are in typically Republican-friendly states. Senate Seats Up For Election In 2014 Senator Party State Mark Begich D AK Jeff Sessions R AL Mark Pryor D AR Mark Udall D CO Christopher Coons D DE R GA Half Moon Bay, Calif. Sales Tax A half-cent increase for infrastructure projects and repairs Saxby Chambliss Tom Harkin D IA Alachua County, Fla. Sales Tax A three-quarter cent, 15-year sales tax for transportation James Risch R ID A one-half percent sales tax increase for regional transportation investment Richard Durbin D IL Pat Roberts R KS Mitch McConnell R KY Mary Landrieu D LA Orange County, N.C. Richland County, S.C. Sales Tax Sales Tax A 1 cent increase to fund improving roads, support the bus system, and increase bike and pedestrian greenways Alaska Bond A $453.5 million bond to pay for state transportation projects Arlington County, Va. Bond A $31.95 million bond to support capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and other transit, pedestrians, and road projects Maine Maine Oklahoma Rhode Island Virginia Beach, Va. Bond A $51.5 million bond for improvements to highways and bridges, local roads, airports, port facilities, and transit John Kerry D MA Susan Collins R ME Carl Levin D MI Al Franken D MN Thad Cochran R MS Max Baucus D MT Kay Hagan D NC Mike Johanns R NE Bond (Water) A $7.925 bond issue expended over two years for revolving loan funds for drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities Jeanne Shaheen D NH Frank Lautenberg D NJ Tom Udall D NM Bond (Water) An amendment to the state constitution to allow the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to issue up to $300 million in bonds for certain water resources and sewage treatment programs James Inhofe R OK Jeff Merkley D OR Jack Reed D RI Lindsey Graham R SC Tim Johnson D SD Lamar Alexander R TN Bond (Water) Referendum Authorized the state to issue bonds up to $12 million to finance wastewater infrastructure and $8 million for drinking water infrastructure projects Non-binding referendum on whether to extend light rail into the city John Cornyn R TX Mark Warner D VA John Rockefeller 42 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | December 2012 D WV Michael Enzi R WY