As we enter April, a 9th(!) extension of the federal transportation authorization bill begins. There was some progress in March, though: The Senate passed a two-year authorization bill 74-22 (both Senators Brown and Kerry voted in the majority). Here’s a summary. Some analysts were bigger fans than others.
The House of Representatives pulled back its proposed five-year bill because it didn’t have the votes, and while there was some movement to either redraft and take up a five-year bill or take up the Senate bill, neither occurred, and the House finds itself still very much in flux. The President used his weekly address to push for a bill. A 90-day extension ended up being necessary, and passed at nearly the last minute.
Here’s a roundup of recent articles related to the federal transportation bill:
1. As bills stall, potholes are ahead – March 4 – Politico
2. Broad coalition leans on Congress to pass transportation spending bill – March 6 – The Hill
3. Cloture Vote on Transpo Bill Fails, Setting Up Longer Fight in Senate – March 6 – Streetsblog
4. Senate OKs highway bill – March 14 – Politico
5. Senate Democrats stop short of saying they’d reject short-term highway bill – March 21 – The Hill
6. What’s Next for the Transportation Bill? – March 29 – National Journal
7. Transportation advocates see little hope for pre-election long-term highway bill – April 1 – The Hill
8. As bills stall, potholes are ahead – March 4 – Politico