Highways, Bridges and Roads

Transportation bill advocates fear bumping negotiations to Reid and Boehner may not even be enough to save the measure.

A pair of Republican highway conference members that have been targeted by an advertising campaign by construction groups said Thursday that the political ads have helped galvanize support in their districts for their positions in the contentious negotiations.

The Washington, D.C.-based Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) said this week it was running ads arguing in favor of Congress reaching a compromise on the transportation bill targeting Reps. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Southerland (R-Fla.), Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio).

But Lankford and Southerland, who are both freshmen lawmakers, said Thursday that the advertisements had raised the profile among their constituents about the disagreements between the chambers on the transportation funding measure 

"I've yet to have a person hang up and not say stick your guns," Lankford said in a conference call with reporters. "I'm quite pleased that they're running these ads against us because they've emboldened our base." 

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Former Minnesota Gov. and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura (I) says he does not fly anymore because of the Transportation Security Administration.

A Ku Klux Klan group in Georgia could sue over the state's rejection of its "Adopt-a-Highway" application.

Opponents of a controversial proposed high-speed railway in California are arguing in a lawsuit that the trains will not go fast enough to be considered high-speed.

A group of Japanese and Chinese investors has agreed to buy Swedish automaker Saab.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) traded accusations over the talks.

A coalition of transportation and construction workers is launching an ad campaign aimed at four Republican members of the committee of lawmakers that is negotiating a new federal highway bill.

A 47-member conference committee has been trying for a month to find a compromise between the House and Senate on a bill that would provide transportation funding for at least the next 18 months, but the talks have appeared in recent weeks to be heading toward a stalemate.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the Associated General Contractors of America's Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) said Wednesday it planned to run radio advertisements in the districts of four GOP members of the panel to urge them to help break the logjam.

"With billions of dollars at stake, and thousands of good paying jobs, it is time for Congress to take action,” the groups say in the campaign ads. “Will your congressman be part of the problem, or part of the transportation solution?”

Your morning transportation speed-read:

The Georgia Department of Transportation has rejected an Adopt-a-Highway application from the Ku Klux Klan.

Airports are trying to cater more to business passengers.

United Airlines is raising its fee for a second checked bag on international flights to $100.

Airlines and ticketing firms are arguing over the future of the industry's reservation system.

Democrats argued on Twitter Tuesday that the House and Senate should reach an agreement on a long-term highway bill before a June 30 deadline for the expiration of current funding.

"House GOP obstruction on highway bill is hurting job creation + endangering safety," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) said in a tweet to her 191,000 followers Tuesday. "1 bridge collapses every 1.3 months."

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) agreed, tweeting on Tuesday that "[S]ummer means highway construction in MN & then it snows. We need the House 2 pass Senate #transportationbill now. No more delay." 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was not yet ready to discuss a temporary extension of highway funding.

The talks in Congress about a possible new multi-year transportation are entering their fifth week.

The talks continue amid growing pessimism about the chance for success for the 47-member conference committee that has been trying to work out a compromise between the House and Senate on a bill for the better part of a month.

The conference committee is trying to create a proposal that would provide transportation funding for at least the next 18 months.

Speaker Boehner’s suggestion of a possible six-month highway bill extension is causing observers to worry a multiyear bill is out-of-reach.