BESHEAR FIGHTS FEDERAL RETREAT ON PROJECTS

LOCAL BRIDGES PLAN NEEDS FUNDS, HE SAYS

Louisville Courier Journal

WASHINGTON -- Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said yesterday that major projects such as the Ohio River bridges in Louisville can't be built without adequate financial involvement by the federal government.

The Bush administration's support for reducing the federal role in planning and paying for transportation projects would put a greater burden on the states, he said "The administration apparently feels that it's time to move most of that (transportation spending) effort to the state level," Beshear said in an interview on the last day of the National Governors Association's three-day winter meeting. "My experience has been any time I hear that, it simply means that they're going to move the responsibility but not the money to the state level."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Sunday that it's time for a different transportation funding system giving governors more control over local projects, tapping into private investment and allowing the states greater freedom to collect tolls.

"You can take the opportunity to stop having Washington dictate your agenda and start setting your own agenda," Peters told a group of governors, including Beshear.
Peters is chairwoman of a commission that recently released a report saying revenue from the federal fuel tax will shrink and won't be able to adequately cover transportation needs.
Improving transportation "is not going to take more central planning by the federal government," Peters said.

But Beshear said 50 states all engaged in their own transportation planning would result "in a mess."

"I think most governors feel as I do, that there should be a national transportation policy, and for us to have a national transportation policy, the federal government needs to be a real partner in that policy with state and local governments," said Beshear, a Democrat.
The implications of forcing the states to take more of the responsibility for transportation planning and spending are enormous for projects such as the $4.1 billion Ohio River Bridges Project, he said.

The plan calls for two new bridges, one in eastern Jefferson County and one in downtown Louisville, plus a redesigned Spaghetti Junction interchange.

"The states don't have the resources to build these mega-projects," Beshear said. "And it is going to require the federal government to be part of that solution. They may not be the whole solution, but they've got to be part of that solution. Otherwise, none of these projects can move forward."

Beshear also said he was encouraged that the governors were in agreement that a national energy policy must encompass all sources, including coal.
Clean-coal technology, with the promise of reduced emissions, "has to be a major part of any future energy policy," he said. Kentucky is a major coal-producing state.
"It is impractical to think that coal as an energy source will be off the table any time soon," Beshear said.

However, during the meeting some governors said they needed to see more evidence before accepting clean-coal technology as a viable alternative energy resource.
On the political front, Beshear was among a group of governors in both parties at a news conference who were asked about their presidential preferences.

"My primary's coming up in May -- uncommitted," Beshear told reporters, referring to Kentucky's May 20 presidential primary.

He later said in an interview that he has had "a great deal of contact with representatives of both campaigns," meaning those of Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Asked if he might endorse if the Democratic race becomes clearer after next Tuesday's primaries in Ohio and Texas, Beshear said he was "undecided on that now."