Lieberman has sent a series of tweets saying TSA’s often-criticized procedures are necessary to keep the aviation system safe.

President Obama again made the case for his proposed jobs bill against a backdrop of a bridge Wednesday, this time using one that connects Washington, D.C., to neighboring Virginia.

Speaking at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which connects Washington to the northern Virginia suburbs, Obama called on the Senate Wednesday to pass his proposals for spending $50 billion in transportation spending and $10 billion to start up a national infrastructure bank. The chamber is schedule to vote this week on the proposal, which was originally in Obama's $447 billion "American Jobs Act."

That bill has already been rejected by the Senate, but Obama said Wednesday that the chamber should pass the transportation provisions.

"Of all the industries hammered by the economic downturn, construction has been among the hardest hit," he said in a speech in front of the bridge at Georgetown Waterfront Park in Washington.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday that opposition to the infrastructure portions of President Obama's jobs bill in the Senate will be based on "politics," not the merits of the proposal.

The Senate is scheduled to hold a vote Thursday on the president's call for $50 billion in transportation spending and $10 billion to start up a national infrastructure bank. The proposal was incorporated it into Obama's $447 billion jobs act, which has already been rejected by the Senate as a complete package.

But in an interview Wednesday on MSNBC, LaHood said Wednesday the infrastructure proposals were a "no-brainer."

"If senators — both Republicans and Democrats — really are listening to people in their states, people are hurting," he said. "They also know that a $50 billion infrastructure program would put people to work very quickly, and they also know they have a lot of bad roads and bridges in their states."

The Transportation Security Administration's known-traveler program is being received favorably during testing, TSA chief John Pistole told a Senate committee Thursday.

TSA has been testing its Pre-Check program, in which passengers volunteer information for the program in exchange for the possibility of receiving expedited screening.

Participation in the program thus far has been limited to a few airports, including Boston's Logan Airport and Detroit's Metro International Airport, and passengers on Delta and American Airlines.

But Pistole said Wednesday that the program has been successful thus far.

"Transportation Security Officers in the four pilot airports are receiving very positive feedback from TSA Pre-Check travelers while the two partner airlines have successfully demonstrated the technical capabilities required to participate in the program, thus paving the way for other airlines to follow," Pistole said in testimony submitted to the Senate Homeland Security Committee. "As we learn from these pilots, we are working closely with other airlines and airports to determine when they may be operationally ready to join.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

A flight from Newark's Liberty International Airport made an emergency landing in Poland.

Washington, D.C.'s MetroRail was among the winners in a Senate minibus vote this week.

Amtrak's vice president of high-speed rail is leaving the company.

The projected cost of a high-speed railway in California is expected to increase.

Democrats in the House of Representatives sharply criticized the Transportation Security Administration Tuesday for postponing a deadline for scanning all cargo aboard airplanes that had been scheduled for December.

The ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said Tuesday was the anniversary of the terrorist plot that prompted TSA to set the deadline, which showed why it should have been kept.

“With the marking of the one-year anniversary of an air cargo terrorist plot, launched by an al Qaeda terrorist affiliate in Yemen – TSA should be working steadfastly and aggressively to get international agreements in place to ensure that all cargo loaded on planes bound for the U.S. is screened—as required under the law,” Thompson said in a statement. “As a nation, we must not lose momentum on closing this known security vulnerability.”

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) used reports Tuesday that the cost of building a proposed high-speed rail in California would be higher than expected to argue that he was right to reject money for a railway in his state.

Shortly after taking office earlier this year, Scott became the third newly-elected Republican governor to turn down money from the Obama administration for high-speed rail. Unlike Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Ohio Gov. John Kasisch (R) though, the amount Scott was turning down - $2.4 billion - was second to only California's high-speed rail offer.

The Obama administration has offered California more than $3 billion for a proposed high speed railway that would link San Francisco, Los Angeles and other major California cities.

A package exploded Tuesday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, injuring a baggage handler at the airport, according to reports.

Chicago's ABC News affiliate reported Tuesday afternoon that there was an explosion at O'Hare, which is the third busiest airport in the world. The network said the blast came from a package that explored as it was coming for a conveyor belt.

The package contained a battery, the report said, and after a quick investigation from the FBI, the incident was ruled an accident.

The worker who was injured was burned on the arm. He is an employee of United Airlines, the station said. 

The lobbying group for public transportation in Washington announced Tuesday the hiring of a new president.

The American Public Transportation Association said Tuesday Michael Melaniphy would take over for former APTA President William Millar, who retired this week.

Melaniphy, who was Schaumburg¸ IL bus manufacturer Motor Coach Industries' Vice President for the public sector, will assume the APTA presidency immediately, the organization said Tuesday.

Read more...