Congress reaches deal on transportation bill, the first since 2005
Last edited Thu Jun 28, 2012, 01:57 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: washington post
Congress has reached an agreement on a transportation bill for the first time since 2005, averting a crisis that could have disrupted the nations highway projects at the height of the construction season.
In the final days before a deadline, Republicans dropped their demands to piggyback onto the bill approval for the Keystone oil pipeline, as well as relaxation of proposed restrictions on coal ash produced by power plants.
In return, Democrats gave up on $1.4 billion for conservation and agreed to allow states more leeway in how they use money that was once mandated for landscaping, bike improvements and pedestrian walkways.
I am so glad that House Republicans met Democrats halfway, as Senate Republicans did months ago, said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the bills chief architect and advocate. The bill is funded at current levels, and it will protect and create 3 million jobs.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/congress-reaches-deal-on-transportation-bill-the-first-since-2005/2012/06/27/gJQA8U8W7V_singlePage.html
The bill runs thru 2014 and would rely on the Highway Trust Fund.
SunSeeker
(51,740 posts)alp227
(32,064 posts)Because he and his fellow CONS FAILED in yet another attempt to make Obama fail!
Let's see:
- the government did not shut down
- the US did not default on the debt
- now millions of transportation workers won't get laid off and get mad at EVERYONE (including Obama)
if any of the previous three scenarios were true, Romney would be pretty much handed the election this year.
Next: the student loan rates!
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)in order to get them on the schedule to be voted on before they leave for the holiday break.
Looks like the 'midnight' stipulation was correct.
Oldtimeralso
(1,938 posts)SleeplessinSoCal
(9,150 posts)WCGreen
(45,558 posts)Yes, she didn't quit on the bill..
Carla in Sequim
(228 posts)Will we see improved employment now, before the election?
babylonsister
(171,099 posts)Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Like the bike paths. Republicans HATE bike paths. They consider them "elitist".
fasttense
(17,301 posts)There sure want to raid the Social Security Trust Fund but they are a ok with the highway trust fund? I guess the Highway Trust fund goes to improving things, while the Social Security Trust Fund goes to improving people.