US Congress spoils for Highway Bill fight
In a rare show of bi-partisan support, Senate Republicans and Democrats threatened to defy a presidential veto and approve an enormous highway spending bill.
The $295 billion bill purports to pave the way for safer, less congested roadways. Included in the legislation are more than $50 billion in funding for mass transit projects and $6 billion for safety programs, parks, and bike paths.
Also among the bills finer details is a $70 million Safe Routes to School Program designed to encourage kids to walk to school and educate them on safe biking.
This current version of the bill is only the latest in a series of roadblocks Congress has faced with the deficit-minded White House.
Since September 2003 Congress has passed a series of short-term extensions to the previous six-year highway bill. The president has threatened to veto any bill that exceeds $284 billion and adds to the federal deficit. The Senate argues that the $295 million is necessary to boost the amount of money invested in the federal highway trust fund.
The House and Senate are under pressure to craft a compromise bill before the brief summer highway
construction season begins in the northern states. The target date is May 31, which is when the most recent extension expires.