Top Story Senate Panel Unanimously Passes Transportation Plan

Top Story

Senate Panel Unanimously Passes Transportation Plan          Washington Post

A Senate committee on Wednesday took the first key step toward approval of a two-year transportation spending plan, and then pledged to find the money to pay for it and seek a long-term solution to the nation’s transportation funding deficit.

TheSenate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a plan to spend almost $80 billion for surface transportation, creating the core legislation that will be augmented by an additional $29 billion for transit and transportation safety.

The bill would consolidate federal transportation programs from almost 90 to fewer than 30. It also would vastly expand a federal loan guarantee and grant program that has been touted by Republicans as their answer to the Obama administration’s jobs proposal.

“This is a jobs bill and an infrastructure bill that is designed to succeed,” said Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), pointing to the Senate rejection of the Obama bill last week.