Senate Dems launch countdown clock to highway funding expiration

Senate Democrats have launched a website counting down the hours until the expiration of federal transportation funding if Congress does not approve at least an extension by the end of the week.

The website is the latest effort by Democrats to pressure House Republicans to accept their version of a new transportation bill.

The House has thus far resisted calls to take up the Senate's $109 billion transportation, saying instead it would pass a short-term extension of the current legislation that provides funding for road and transportation projects. 

Previous attempts on Monday and Tuesday to pass a 90-day and 60-day extension respectively in the lower chamber were unsuccessful. The measures were both pulled after it appeared GOP leaders did not have the required two-thirds vote to consider the measure under a suspension of the House rules.

The House had been scheduled to try a third attempt Wednesday to pass a short-term highway extension, but the measure is listed as postponed on the most recent calendar released by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) office.

A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Wednesday that the delay in voting on their highway bill extension is not permanent.

“The Democrats said they would not accept a 90-day extension but would accept a 60-day extension," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement. "So the plan is to pass a 60-day extension this week."

Lawmakers have until March 31 to pass a highway bill extension before the government's authorization to collect the federal gas tax, which is normally used to fund transportation projects, expires.

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