WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Moeller, Wylie and Cleveland comment on Columbia River Crossing impasse

crcRep. Jim Moeller, Rep. Sharon Wylie and Sen. Annette Cleveland released the following statements today after a proposed transportation revenue package to fund the Columbia River Crossing failed in a final bid to be brought to the Senate floor on the final day of the second legislative special session:

“I am very disappointed in the shortsightedness of some of my colleagues on this CRC issue. They simply failed to embrace the simple fact that transportation is about investing in our future. It’s about families, jobs, businesses, and public safety,” Moeller said. “There was a time not so long ago when transportation was a non-partisan issue. This partisan obstructionism is endangering our state and its commerce. It’s commerce that drives our taxes and taxes drive our state. Senate Republicans, frankly, have become the pothole in the road.”

“It is easier to kill legislation than to build a future together,” Wylie said. “We came here to do what is right for our collective future. That may not be easy or always popular. The need to repair our infrastructure will still be here later and it will only get more urgent and expensive. My hope is that we will work together to move forward even if it could not be accomplished this session.”

“I am saddened today that not all of us in the Legislature are willing to be partners in the prosperity of our state,” Cleveland said. “The very foundation for this prosperity is investment in our state’s transportation infrastructure.  For our community in particular, funding the CRC project this year was absolutely critical in order to qualify for federal funding and match Oregon’s funding commitment.  The short-sightedness of refusing to invest in this state’s future will have repercussions for generations to come.”