Washington Post: Senate highway bill set for key test vote

[Patricia M. McBride]

This may be something we wish to watch since the Keystone pipline has been added.  It is also touted to be a job creator.

3/6/2012

By Ed O'Keefe

A bill providing funding for the nation’s highways, bridges and public transportation systems faces a key test vote Tuesday.

Senators are expected to vote on whether to proceed with consideration of a two-year, $109 billion measure packed with funding for road projects and reforms designed to bolster the safety of the nation’s trains, trucks and buses. The bill’s backers — including Democrats, some Republicans, labor unions and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — say it will help create or sustain more than 2 million jobs in the next two years.

If Tuesday’s vote succeeds, final passage of the bill is expected by Thursday, according to Senate aides.

Democrats said Monday that the bill’s fate lies with Republicans, who have fought to hold votes on amendments to the bill that are completely unrelated to transportation dollars, even though the general outline of the bill has bipartisan support. Among other measures, Republicans have sough votes to authorize the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline and last week failed to earn enough support to expand conscience exemptions to the Obama administration’s new birth control coverage rule.

READ MORE HERE:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/senate-highway-b...