Dear Mr. President:  

On behalf of the millions of members represented by our respective organizations, we ask that you hold steadfast to your threat to veto H.R. 3, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, the six-year transportation reauthorization legislation if Congress is unable to meet the $284 billion threshold.

Fiscal restraint is imperative as the deficit is currently projected to be $427 billion in fiscal 2005 and taxpayers are faced with the demand for large and sustained national security investments. We urge you to protect America’s future financial viability.

With substantial increases in the price of gasoline over the past year and the federal gas tax currently at 18.4 cents per gallon, taxpayers have been hit hard enough. In addition to exceeding your $284 billion limit, the Senate’s $295 billion bill simply shifts revenues and includes a tax increase. The House has a back-door mechanism to future spending increases and its 3,600-plus earmarks will only add to the burdens our country is facing.

Please urge Congress to come to an agreement and meet the June 30 deadline, respect your transportation budget request, and remove pork-barrel projects. If members continue to sacrifice national interests for their own self-interests, it is essential that you follow through on your promise to the American people by vetoing any transportation bill that exceeds $284 billion and raises taxes.

Sincerely,

Grover Norquist

President

Americans for Tax Reform

Thomas Schatz

President

Council for Citizens Against Government Waste

Matt Kibbe

President and CEO

FreedomWorks

John Berthoud

President

National Taxpayers Union

Jill Lancelot

President / Co-Founder

Taxpayers for Common Sense