Temporary extension may be necessary even if lawmakers reach highway bill deal

A key member of the committee of lawmakers negotiating a new transportation spending bill said Monday evening that Congress may have to pass a temporary funding extension even if they reach a bicameral compromise.

“We may have to get an extension of a week or so because you have to write everything up,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), who is chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. 

Rockefeller said lawmakers are seeking to come to an agreement as soon as late Monday night. He said he was more optimistic than he had been at other points during the two-month negotiation between the 47-member House-Senate conference committee.

“Yesterday I would have said no chance of getting it done. Today I would say [there’s a] chance of getting it done,” said Rockefeller , who said there has been “give on both sides.”

“I now for the first time think that we have a good chance of getting a bill,” he said in the Capitol Monday evening.

Ben Geman has more, including details on negotiations about the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline’s inclusion in the transportation bill, in Overnight Energy on The Hill’s E-2 Wire.