Twelve state governors signed a March 24 letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert warning that their delegations may not support a transportation and transit reauthorization bill unless states get an increased share of money they generate from federal gasoline taxes.

The governors representing so-called donor states want to require at least a 95-percent return in highway funds, up from 90.5 percent now. But House leaders appear ready to keep the minimum return at 90.5 percent, as well as reduce the share of the highway program covered by the guarantee.

The governors of Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Texas signed the letter.

"It has now become clear that TEA LU will move to the House Floor without addressing this critical concern," the letter said.

In addition, the governors say the scope of programs included in the Minimum Guarantee drops from the TEA-21 level of 93 percent to 84 percent "disproportionately impacting our states." The letter concludes, "As state governments also confront fiscal challenges, it is our hope that you would make some modifications in a good faith effort to address this inequity gap."