California congressman urges D.C. to release state’s mass-transit funds

U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) submitted a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez on Thursday, urging him to authorize the release of federal transit funding that the Department of Labor (DOL) is still holding back from California’s mass-transit agencies.

“It’s long past time for the Obama administration to stop playing political games and ensure our transit agencies receive promised funding,” Calvert said. “If Secretary Perez does not act soon, transit riders throughout California will feel the impact of reduced service and the continued deterioration of transit vehicles.”

Under regulations established over 50 years ago by the 1964 Urban Mass Transportation Act, grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for mass-transit agencies must have approval and certification from the Secretary of Labor. Since passage of pension-reform laws in California, which were supported by the California State legislature as well as the state’s governor, Jerry Brown, Perez has refused to provide approval for federal funds for all California’s transit agencies.

“I simply don’t know how anyone can think it is right to penalize California transit riders, employees and taxpayers because the state enacted common-sense pension reforms,” Calvert said.

Signing the letter with Calvert were a number of fellow lawmakers, including: Reps. Paul Cook (R-CA); Sam Farr (D-CA); Duncan Hunter (R-CA); Steve Knight (R-CA); Doug LaMalfa (R-CA); Tom McClintock (R-CA); Devin Nunes (R-CA); Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); Ed Royce (R-CA) and Mimi Walters (R-CA).