LANSING -Michigan is in the unenviable position of being a “donor” state when it comes to funding for federal transportation spending on our state’s highways. That means we send more than we receive in tax dollars to lawmakers Washington, D.C. for funding road repairs.

In fact, as we’ve been reporting, our state currently ranks 47th in the nation in terms of rate of return for highway funding, getting back only 88 cents for every dollar contributed.

A coalition of labor, management politicians and business groups have formed the Michigan Transportation Team in an effort to get more bang for the buck when it comes to highway spending in Michigan.

According to the Transportation Road Information Program, Michigan faces an estimated $16 billion projected shortfall from 2003 to 2025 in needed highway, road and bridge funding to improve the condition of the system, expand key routes to relieve traffic congestion and improve key highway links to support economic development.

Construction workers can help themselves by logging on to www.fundingfairness.com, click on “contact your member of Congress,” and enter your zip code. You can then send an e-mail to your member of Congress, urging them to restore funding fairness for Michigan.