Two former fuel-tax rivals have formed a legislative partnership to ensure continued federal financial support for highway and bridge improvements.
During the 10th annual National Ethanol Conference, the Renewable Fuels Association honored the American Road and Transportation Builders Association with its “Industry Partner Award” for helping reform federal tax policy on ethanol-blended motor fuels.
“It [the award] recognized that we’ve been a partner in this,” said Matt Jeanneret, vice president of communications for ARTBA. “It’s bringing together two communities that traditionally don’t work together.”
The award signified the combined efforts of the two organizations in lobbying for “The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004,” signed into law by President Bush in October. The law could generate more than $22 billion in additional user revenue to the Highway Trust Fund during the next six years, according to ARTBA.
The law could also help create nearly 1 million jobs in the transportation construction and related industries.
The partnership between ARTBA and RFA was formed to address issues surrounding an ethanol-blended fuel tax credit. Motorists using the fuel were taxed at a lower rate compared to those who purchased straight gasoline.
Recognizing this, ARTBA and RFA began their joint venture in 2001 to bring the ethanol and transportation communities together and help pass a law to equalize the tax policy.
