Highway bill inches forward

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday afternoon expressed frustration on the Senate floor regarding the slow progress of the transportation bill, but also noted small signs of progress.

“Today with the failure to advance the Blunt amendment, the Senate completed an important step to try to advance this bill,” he said.

Reid also made a procedural move, attaching to the bill an amendment that includes 37 technical changes recommended by the relevant committees.

For the third time in two days, Reid also threatened to shut off debate and disallow votes on any of the more-than-100 non-germane amendments Republicans and some Democrats have offered if further cooperation does not quickly emerge on the bill, which has been stalled since Feb. 7.  

“I am thinking seriously of coming to the floor today and asking that we move forward with no non-germane amendments,” he said. “It’s vital that we complete work on this transportation bill, and I am determined to do so.”