That’s right folks, Ronnie Barrett, Donna Rowland, and all their friends have jumped on board a sneaky plan in the waning hours of the legislative session that will cost the state $762 million in Federal Highway Administration funding. An amendment was approved last night in House Budget Subcommittee to give Ronnie his road, whether or not the Federal Highway Administration approves. The amendment has no sponsor, it isn’t posted online with all the others, and no one will talk about it although the bill is HB3796 sponsored by Rep. Mike Turner (D-Ol Hickory) with amendment drafting code 0192003 section 28.

Maybe no one will talk because TDOT has been issued a letter by the Federal Highway Administration threatening to pull $762 million dollars in funding to Tennessee if the federal right of way is given to Barrett in violation of federal statutes. Michelle Willard of the Murfreesboro Post and Jeff Woods of the Nashville Scene have the scoop:

Should the House Budget Subcommittee finish other outstanding business today, the House Finance Committee could vote on the amendment as early as Wednesday night.

Earlier this legislative session, the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance a similar bill that would grant Barrett the right-of-way needed to widen and extend Miller Lane to his factory expansion.

A companion bill in the state House has stalled after the Federal Highway Administration warned the state may lose highway funding of more than $762 million if the transfer of property is approved.

TDOT Spokeswoman Julie Oaks said the department asked the FHA earlier this year if the legislation would violate any federal transportation rules.

“They said, ‘this legislation seems to be in conflict with the core concepts of our program’,” Oaks read from a letter to TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.

Woods:

As the session drags on endlessly and reporters nod off at their desks, Barrett’s many friends in the legislature have slipped into action. They’ve hidden an amendment in the latest House omnibus budget bill. They’re sneaky like that. Their amendment orders the Transportation Department to build Barrett’s road for him, and damn the consequences.

What are the consequences? How about the loss of millions of dollars in federal highway funds? That money is at risk because Barrett’s special amendment would force the state to relinquish federal right-of-way along Interstate 24. The feds frown on that.

“This could definitely cost us some money. That sounds like the Washington way of doing business,” said department spokeswoman Julie Oaks, taking a poke at one of the legislature’s more prominent supporters of the NRA.

At this moment, Pith is looking at a letter from the Federal Highway Administration to Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely, which says:

If the Department moves forward with the relinquishment of the Interstate right-of … the State of Tennessee could potentially become ineligible to receive a portion of the Federal funding available to it under the Federal-aid Highway Program. Tennessee’s share of the FAHP totaled $762,023,000 for federal fiscal year 2009.
That’s $762 million. But hey, what’s a little money between friends?