Highways, Bridges and Roads

Cantor's office fires back that Reid's claims are "ridiculous and patently false."

The proposal does not include the Keystone pipeline; House Transportation says it is "taking a look" at the draft.

“It’s not our way or the highway, it’s our way or no highway," the House Democratic whip says.

Members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition are calling for the committee of lawmakers that is negotiating a new federal surface transportation bill to leave environmental provisions that were approved by the House out of any compromise they reach.

The group, which is comprised of about 50 Democrats, said a trio of provisions that were included in the transportation funding legislation that was approved by the House "detract from the true purpose of this conference - creating sound transportation policy for our nation's crumbling infrastructure - while jeopardizing environmental safeguards put in place to protect the American public and our vital natural resources."

"As you work toward reaching an agreement on surface transportation reauthorization, the members of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition urge you to reject any anti-environmental policy rides," the energy and environment coalition wrote in a letter to the conference committee. 

The chairwoman of the committee of lawmakers that is conferencing on a new federal transportation bill said the employment numbers released Friday made the case for Congress to compromise on road and transit spending.

Statistics released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed national unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in May, with the U.S. economy adding only 69,000 jobs.

House leaders sent signals Friday that the transportation conference might miss its June 30 deadline for the expiration of the current highway spending bill, but Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Friday afternoon that the job numbers showed why the 47-member panel she is chair of should not let that happen.

"Today's unemployment numbers underscore the necessity of passing a transportation bill that does not cut transportation funding," Boxer said in a statement released by her office. "Clearly, the indecision in passing a transportation reauthorization bill is having a terrible impact on the construction industry -- 28,000 construction jobs lost last month."

The majority leader hints Republicans would look for a short-term deal to prevent funds from being blocked.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) says he is not interested in becoming Transportation secretary in a new Republican presidential administration.

GE is relocating its transportation headquarters to Chicago.

United Airlines is cutting back at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport after Southwest's planned expansion at the city's Hobby Airport was approved.

Supporters of a proposed transportation tax in Atlanta made 300,000 phone calls to build support for the proposal.

The lobbying group for state government officials who rely on federal transportation funding is criticizing lawmakers for their inability thus far to reach an agreement on a new highway spending bill.

The 47 lawmakers on the committee, who were appointed to conference on the transportation bill, have been negotiating for the better part of a month.

But American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Executive Director John Horsley said Thursday that there weren't enough signs of progress coming from the committee.

"Thousands of jobs will be lost unless the House and Senate can put politics aside and move forward on a highway and transit bill," Horsley said in a statement. "Without this bill America's surface transportation programs will shut down July 1, and it's virtually certain that next year drastic cutbacks will need to be made because of a revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund."

The Georgia conservative wants to cap spending at funds gained via the federal gas tax — about $35 billion.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

The Washington, D.C. metro area's new intercounty highway is drawing criticism for its lack of use.
 
Officials in Phoenix are proposing a new light rail.

The panel overseeing the development of a controversial proposed high-speed railway in California has a new CEO.

An expansion of the terminal at Houston's Hobby Airport to make way for international flights has been approved.