House Passes Another Highway Bill Extension, Through September
The House passed an extension to a federal highway bill through the end of September, setting the stage for negotiations with the Senate on a longer-term plan, the Associated Press reported.
The measure — which also OK’d plans for the Keystone XL pipeline to proceed — was passed by 293-127 vote, and extends the government’s authority to spend money from the federal Highway Trust Fund through Sept. 30.
But despite the latest House action, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said prospects for a multi-year transportation bill were unlikely during this presidential election year, Bloomberg reported.
The House and Senate last month passed 90-day transportation bill extensions to fund highways and infrastructure lasting through June 30, which President Obama signed into law.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) — who said he lacked the votes to get a five-year bill — now heads into talks with leaders of the Democrat-controlled Senate, Bloomberg reported.
The Senate, which wants a longer-term measure, last month approved a two-year, $109 billion transportation bill, with bipartisan support.
