Musgrave alleges intimidation [Freshman CO Congresswoman Fighting Taxes]

DenverPost.com ^ | Friday, May 23, 2003 | Mike Soraghan

[Smile-n-Win]

Musgrave alleges intimidation

Alaska lawmaker berated her, she says

By Mike Soraghan, Denver Post Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Freshman Rep. Marilyn Musgrave is leading the charge against a gasoline tax increase being pushed by fellow Republicans. But she's finding that the limelight can be an uncomfortable place.

Musgrave, of Fort Morgan, said this week that the chief sponsor of raising the tax, House Transportation Committee chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, tried to intimidate her with an in-your-face tirade on the House floor. She said he also threatened highway projects in her district.

"I have never had a man talk to me the way Mr. Young talked to me," Musgrave, a member of the Transportation Committee, told reporters.

Musgrave said Young stood on a step above her and berated her after she'd tried to greet him in the chamber. Musgrave chief of staff Guy Short said Young was yelling and screaming "to the point that spit was flying out of his mouth."

"This was highly inappropriate and went way beyond the bounds of appropriate conversation," Short said. "Mr. Young thought he could intimidate a freshman woman."

Though he did not mention canceling specific highway projects, Short said Young strongly implied a threat to highway projects in Musgrave's district by "making it very clear that he's in charge of transportation projects."

Young spokesman Steve Hansen denied that the chairman was trying to intimidate Musgrave, though he did acknowledge that his boss "can be animated."

"It was a member-to-member conversation," Hansen said. "Chairman Young was pointing out the hypocrisy of requesting more than a billion dollars in highway projects and then publicly going out and saying she didn't want to increase highway investment."

The gasoline tax is currently 18.4 cents per gallon, last increased in 1993. Young says that 18.4 cents is now worth the same as about 12 cents in 1993. Young has proposed adjusting the tax for inflation, which means it would rise with the Consumer Price Index.

That would amount to a 5.4-cent increase, Musgrave says.

The Department of Transportation has said the government needs $375 billion during the next six years to maintain the nation's transportation system and begin to improve it. Without changes, the government would get about $250 billion in the same period.

Young has proposed a number of measures in addition to the increase, including spending down the highway trust fund, returning interest to the fund and dropping tax breaks for ethanol.

Musgrave says Congress should look at other options, such as eliminating "pork" projects. She also says Congress should rethink a formula that delivers $6.60 to Alaska for every dollar it sends to Washington in gasoline taxes. Colorado gets about 93 cents.

[Smile-n-Win]

But she's finding that the limelight can be an uncomfortable place.

I wouldn't bet on that. I'm sure Rep. Musgrave enjoying her new fame as a brave and principled Congresswoman.

[leprechaun9]

"The Department of Transportation has said the government needs $375 billion ..."

The amount of $375 Billion, let's see, isn't that the amount of the Tobacco Law Suit Settlement?

[steplock]

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave

A rep with principles - Kick Butt!!!!

[gaspar]

In the lottery we call the United States Government Alaska is a major winner. They are also the biggest poormouths and whiners in America despite the huge petroleum windfall distributed annually. Don't believe me? Just visit the misbegotten place and find out for yourself.

[GladesGuru]

Why not just give to the states who joined after the original thirteen the Federal lands in their state? Then they wouldn't be subjected to idiotic micromanagement from Beltway bureaucrats.

The lands could be sold as a means of satisfying the national debt, and the states would then have both private lands generating profits and a viable tax base.

When the Feds own way over 90% of your state, and regulate the remainder to Hell and back, no wonder they whine. The wonder is that thay only whine, not take more active steps.