President Signs $286 Bln. Transportation Measure Into Law
resident Bush signed the $286.4 billion transportation bill into law Wednesday near Aurora, Ill., news services reported.
he president signed the measure at a Caterpillar Inc. plant in the home district of House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the Associated Press reported. Caterpillar makes diesel engines and heavy equipment.
The president's signing into law of the highway bill follows his signing the energy bill into law on Monday in New Mexico.
Substandard road conditions and roadside hazards are a factor in nearly one-third of the 42,000 traffic fatalities a year, officials say, and every $1 billion in highway construction creates 47,500 jobs, AP reported.
Lawmakers left Washington carrying promises of new highway and bridge projects, rail and bus facilities, and bike paths and recreational trails they secured for their states and districts, AP said.
Bush had threatened to veto the bill if the final version was above the $284 billion passed by the House, but agreed to sign the measure, which was less than a $295 billion plan passed by the Senate.
Some critics of the legislation criticized its abundance of special projects, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of only four senators who opposed the bill. He said the estimated $24 billion lawmakers directed to special projects was “egregious,” AP reported.
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