Bush Administration and GOP Congress Propose Cuts to Public Transit and Other Transportation Alternatives

Interview with Hank Dittmar, executive director of Reconnecting America, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, had been planning to attach controversial energy legislation to the $300 billion transportation bill that's also moving through Congress. But that idea was eventually dropped, and the transportation bill has generated its own controversy. For more than ten years, the percentage of the budget going toward non-highway projects, though miniscule, was on an upward trend. However, under President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, that trend may now be swinging downward.

Many who consider themselves environmentalists, smart-growth advocates or public health promoters have weighed in to try to squeeze dollars out of the transportation bill to support other forms of transportation that take people into account, not just cars.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Hank Dittmar, executive director of Reconnecting America, about the problems he sees with the transportation bill and his organization's efforts to have transportation serve human needs, like safe cycling, walking routes and supporting the development of transit-centered communities.

Contact Reconnecting America at (505) 426-8055 or visit their website at www.reconnectingamerica.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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