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Transit group: Ryan's budget 'misguided'
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) sharply criticized the 2012 budget proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) Wednesday, saying it cuts too much from federal spending on transportation.
The plan drafted by Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, calls for a 30 percent reduction in all transportation spending.
APTA President William Millar said the proposal is short-sighted.
“The budget plan proposed by Chairman Ryan would place ill-conceived limits on federal investment in transportation,” Millar said in a statement. “This would halt thousands of projects needed in the years ahead to bring our nation’s public transportation infrastructure up to a state of good repair and build the capacity for millions of new riders."
Millar said public transportation cuts are ill-advised at a time of high gas prices.
"With gas prices rising steadily, now is not the time to place misguided restrictions on public transportation and high-speed and intercity passenger rail investment," Millar said. "Public transit is the quickest way for people to beat high gas prices if it is available.”
Ryan has repeatedly said not doing anything about the growing federal deficit would be irresponsible. His budget plan would cut $5.8 trillion in government spending over 10 years.
"I would say that what is draconian is doing nothing and lying to the American people about these fiscal problems that we have," he said in a January interview with ABC News's Diane Sawyer.
