Highway Bill passes House and Senate

Highway Bill delayed for two more days.

"But one of the remaining major sticking points has been how to divide federal highway money among the states. States that pay more into the highway trust fund through gasoline taxes than they receive from Washington have long complained of unfairness, and negotiators have been trying to work out a formula where states would be guaranteed, by 2009, of getting back at least 92 percent of what they contribute.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee's panel in charge of transportation issues, said House Majority Leader
Tom DeLay, R-Texas, slowed the talks with last-minute proposals to revise the funding formula. Texas is one of the "donor" states that wants a more equitable share of federal funds.

"Mr. DeLay brought in a brand new formula that severely changed it and disadvantaged a number of states, so we told them that we would have to go back to where we were at the beginning of the negotiations," Bond said."

 

And another 4 days.

Extended until next Wed. Since they go on a five week break at the end of next week, let's hope they have something for the President to sign and that he signs it by the end of next week.

Highway Negotiators remain at odds.

"So-called "donor" states have long complained about paying more to Washington in federal gas taxes than they get back, and have pushed for a more equitable system. Under the old formula, states are guaranteed 90.5 percent back for contributions to the highway trust fund. The Senate-passed bill would raise that guarantee to 92 percent by 2009, but the House is pressing for that level to be reached at an earlier date."

 

Re: Highway Bill delayed for two more days.

Lawmakers remove roadblock to highway bill

"WASHINGTON - House and Senate conferees abandoned giving makers of the gasoline additive MTBE liability protection against environmental lawsuits on Sunday, removing the major roadblock to enactment of broad energy legislation.

Senate negotiators rejected a House proposal for an $11.4 billion MTBE cleanup fund that House Republicans had hoped would serve as a compromise and still provide the liability shield to the oil industry.

Sen. Pete Domenici (news, bio, voting record), R-N.M., leader of the Senate energy negotiating team, said while some MTBE issues were still being discussed, those did not include a cleanup fund, nor liability protection.

"Those are gone," Domenici told reporters as the House-Senate conferees held an unusual Sunday session in hopes of completing work on a sweeping energy bill by Monday night.

If the negotiators are successful an energy bill could pass Congress before week's end, meeting an Aug. 1 goal to have a bill at the White House as urged by President Bush."

They're still discussing: energy bill's tax provisions, renewable energy sources and conservation, support for oil, gas and nuclear industries, whether to require electric utilities to utilize renewable fuels and the ethanol mandate.

But MTBE is OUT! No liability protection, no clean-up subsidies. Yippee!

 

Re: Highway Bill delayed for two more days.

Highway bill very close to done.

They're dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s. Cleaning up some language. But looks like the Highway Bill is all but done. Hopefully it will be voted on on Wednesday and then go to the President for signature by the end of the week.

Huzzah!

After it's signed I'll be checking the California DMV site daily for the posting of the revised application for an HOV sticker.

(happy dance!)

(oh, and I won my case in small claims court today. The Judge ruled the Kwik n Kleen car wash on Genessee Ave in San Diego did in fact "wash" the leather seats of my car. They are ordered to pay restitution plus court costs.)

 

Re: Highway Bill delayed for two more days.

Finally, an agreement.

"Lawmakers involved in the talks said they expected to present their report late Wednesday or early Thursday, with a House vote on Thursday.

Congress moved Wednesday to pass the 11th temporary extension of the old law, this time through midnight Saturday. That has kept existing highway programs running but has prevented new ones from getting started — work that would create tens of thousands of jobs and address serious infrastructure problems.

Slightly more than 18 percent of the funds would go to public transit, for bus and train projects and special programs for the disabled or to promote public transportation in national parks."

Now, as long as Bill Frist doesn't tie up the Senate's hands with his high handed treatment of the gun rights bill, maybe they'll get a chance to vote on the Highway Bill.

Bill Frist being a bully.

"WASHINGTON - Until lawmakers vote on a top-priority gun rights bill, nothing else happens in the Senate. And that includes Congress' prized monthlong vacation.

That's the way Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has toughened up his style in the final days before the August break was to begin, learning from last year to leave no room for gun control advocates to derail legislation limiting lawsuits against the gun industry."

Gun rights is a higher priority than a Highway Bill that has been extended 11 times?

Whatever.

 

Re: Highway Bill delayed for two more days.

Looks like it's going to be an after midnight vote.

Congress moves to vote on Highway Bill

"The House was to vote first on the 1,000-page package, although last-minute disputes had lawmakers waiting in their offices late Thursday. Several House members strongly objected to a Senate provision allowing the reopening of a closed runway at a Montana Air Force base.

A post-midnight vote on the six-year measure would be the House's last major act before recessing for the six-week summer break. The Senate was to follow suit Friday."

The President is expected to sign it.

Congress ready to send Bush highway bill.

"House plans to approve the legislation Thursday were sidelined when House members strongly objected to a provision, inserted by the Senate, to reopen a runway at an air base in Montana closed in a 1996 round of base closings.

Rep. Christopher Shays (news, bio, voting record), R-Conn., whose own state could lose a submarine base at Groton under the latest round of proposed base closings, said it was "absolutely outrageous" that the highway bill was being used to reverse a previous decision on closing a military facility"

And what we've all been waiting for:

"California Reps. Brad Sherman and Darrell Issa succeeded in inserting a provision allowing their state and others to open up car pool lanes to single occupancy hybrid vehicles."

And you better start using your seat belt:

"Mothers Against Drunk Driving said in a statement that it was pleased with several safety provisions, including $29 million a year to implement high visibility law enforcement efforts to deter drunken driving and grant funds to states that pass a primary seat belt law — allowing police to stop vehicles for seat belt violations — or achieve a belt usage rate of 85 percent."

 

Re: Highway Bill delayed for two more days.

It's passed the House!

House OKs Highway bill

"WASHINGTON - The House passed a $286.4 billion highway and mass transit bill Friday that could provide long-awaited relief for the nation's travelers while creating tens of thousands of construction jobs.

The 412-8 vote on the six-year surface transportation bill, to be followed later in the day by the Senate, would send the president a measure that will generate new federal money for every state working to expand and repair its roadways, bridges and rail systems.

The president is expected to sign the highway measure, which covers the 2004-2009 period. "This is a piece of legislation that will help us meet our transportation needs over the next six years, and it will also keep us on track, or ahead of schedule, to cut the deficit in half," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Thursday.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving said in a statement that it was pleased with several safety provisions, including $29 million a year to implement high-visibility law enforcement efforts to deter drunken driving and grant funds to states that pass a primary seat belt law — allowing police to stop vehicles for seat belt violations — or achieve a belt usage rate of 85 percent.

California Reps. Brad Sherman and Darrell Issa succeeded in inserting a provision allowing their state and others to open up car pool lanes to single occupancy hybrid vehicles. "

It still has to pass the Senate and then be signed by Bush. But soon, soon.

 

Re: Highway Bill passes House

Congress approves highway bill.

"The 91-4 vote in the Senate came hours after the House approved the measure, 412-8.

President Bush, in a statement, promised to sign the bill that “will strengthen and modernize the transportation networks vital to America’s continued economic growth.â€"

Now it just needs Bush to sign.

I find this particularly funny: "Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., ranking Democrat on the Transportation Committee, pushed for a five-year, $612 million Safe Routes to School program to encourage kids to walk and ride bikes to school."

Because with the new Energy bill extended daylight savings time....these kids will be walking and riding their bikes to school.....IN THE DARK.

 

I can find no news that Bush signed the Highway bill.

He's now left on a five week vacation to Texas.

He found the time to appoint Bolton to the U.N. and sign his pet CAFTA bill.

How long does it take to sign your name? After two years and 12 extensions he can't sign the bill? It's DONE and he has to leave it sit for 5 more weeks? What's the deal?

I read he's going to sign the Energy Bill while he's in New Mexico. So if it's a "working" vacation....where's the Highway Bill?

 

Yes. That's what I read. He's signing the Energy Bill in New Mexico.

So....where's the Highway Bill?