What do I need to understand about the state’s highway fuci?

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It’s a huge amount of money and a big risk to Texas and taxpayers.

But the federal government is not happy.

In March, the US Transportation Department sued the state of Texas for more than $1.2bn, claiming it did not follow the law when it passed the highway bill in 2016, and did not have a plan to fund it. 

The department’s legal team said the state did not provide adequate notice of its intentions to run the program. 

“These proposed projects were not fully considered by the legislature, and it appears that the governor was not fully briefed about the funding sources, and therefore did not fully understand the implications of his actions,” the US department said in a court filing in April.

It said that while the governor’s office “had an understanding that the Governor would be able to use the $1bn in funds for infrastructure needs in Texas” and that the $6bn highway project would “enhance transportation in Texas”, the state had not “made sufficient efforts to provide the information necessary to inform the Governor regarding the proposed funding sources”. 

The lawsuit claimed the state has “repeatedly failed to provide sufficient notice” to the Governor, and that there was no way to know if the funds would be used. 

It also said that the funding would be available in the future for other infrastructure projects, and there is “no assurance” that other funding would come through. 

Texas Governor Greg Abbott The Governor’s office has denied the allegations, and told the court the state will continue to work to find a funding source.

“The Governor has always said that he will work with the legislature to create a funding solution for this project, and we will continue doing so,” a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office told the AFP news agency.

“Texas has always worked to provide funding for transportation projects, including transportation infrastructure, and he will continue that mission.” 

The US Department of Transportation said in court papers that the case is “a very serious matter”, and “will be a test of whether Texas is able to follow the requirements of the Omnibus Transportation Equity Act”. 

“If it does not, it will be the first state in the nation to lose its state highway funding.

This is a very serious issue that should be addressed urgently,” it said. 

Image copyright AP