Transportation and Infrastructure

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.

The Senate on Wednesday approved a $109 billion transportation bill that would fund road and transit projects for two years.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday evening that the Senate would try to conclude work on the transportation authorization bill, S. 1813, by mid-Wednesday, then move quickly to what could be a series of votes on district judge nominations.

After completing work on 15 amendments to the transportation bill on Tuesday, the Senate has seven amendments left. But Reid said he hoped the bill could be completed with just three roll-call votes starting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a sign that some of the pending amendments will either be withdrawn or perhaps accepted by unanimous consent.

The Senate on Tuesday afternoon passed the following amendments to the pending transportation bill by unanimous consent:

Plans to spur the conversion of heavy trucking fleets to natural gas with billions of dollars in tax credits fell short in the Senate on Tuesday despite backing from Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and energy magnate T. Boone Pickens.

Senators voted 51-47 on an amendment by Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to sweeping transportation legislation, but it required 60 votes for passage.

The vote signals the tough road ahead for the plan despite support for natural-gas vehicle incentives among many Democrats, Republicans and President Obama, who in North Carolina touted his own proposals for boosting alternative-energy vehicles last week.