South Dakota

Pit & Quarry, May, 2004

South Dakota Senators Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson are trying to get more money included in the new highway bill as it goes into conference committee. Because South Dakota lacks a member of the US House of Representatives, the state fared poorly in getting special projects included in the House version of the bill.

The Senate version was passed in February and includes more than 100 million dollars for South Dakota projects. The real difference between the two versions lies in the funding that goes to the state based on a formula that measures highway miles, miles traveled and gas taxes paid. That Senate version would send 400 million dollars more over six years to the state.