Transportation and Infrastructure

The GOP lawmaker was outraged by a report that the General Services Administration spent more than $800,000 on a conference.

The measure extends current funding for road and transit projects until June 30, the ninth such short-term continuance since 2009.

After days of delay, the House on Thursday morning got one step closer to approving legislation that would extend the authorization for federal highway programs for 90 days, after another familiar debate in which Democrats blasted Republicans for not taking up the Senate-passed bill, and Republicans said they need more time to put together a long-term bill.

Members approved the rule for H.R. 4281, the Surface Transportation Extension Act, by voice vote, following a 237-178 procedural vote in favor of taking up the rule.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said Wednesday that he hopes Democrats will come around and support a short-term extension of federal highway programs when the bill comes up for a vote on Thursday, even as Republicans were setting up a Thursday vote that does not need any Democratic support for passage.

"I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will act responsibly and put politics aside and join us in passing a short-term extension so we can work out a longer-term solution," Mica said in a brief statement on the floor.

House Democrats on Tuesday afternoon repeatedly criticized House Republicans for trying to approve a 60-day extension of federal highway programs, and one, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) went so far as to say Republicans "hate America" and "hate government."

"They hate government so much, they will say that investment by the government in building a national transportation system, and maintaining it, and rebuilding it with Made in America requirements," DeFazio said on the House floor. "Why would they say that? Because they got 80 people on their side of the aisle who do not believe we should have a national transportation plan or policy."

Citing a new bipartisan effort to agree on an extension, Monday's vote has been delayed until later this week.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Thursday afternoon that Republicans are delaying a long-term transportation authorization bill because they are trying to find a way to fund federal spending at a time when the government is "out of money."

"We are in very, very difficult economic times," Cantor said on the House floor. "We have never faced the kind of problems that we face today as a country from a fiscal standpoint.

House Republicans on Wednesday indicated that they would move a bill extending federal transportation authorization for three months, giving them more time to work on a longer-term extension.

"Tomorrow, I will introduce a short-term extension through June 30 to ensure continuity of current programs while I and House Republicans continue to work toward a responsible transportation bill that provides long-term certainty, reduces the size of government, eliminates earmarks and is fully paid for," House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said.

Sens. Charles Schumer and Susan Collins said they would soon introduce legislation to help people who may be "inappropriately treated."

Johanns wants language removed that he says is an earmark for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's home state of Nevada.