Weak winter, but Congress keeps highway funding flowing
Republicans left most of the 2007 budget unresolved and Congressional Democrats pledged to hold spending at FY 2006 levels. That would have applied to spending from the fee-funded Highway Trust Fund and denied $3.4 billion in anticipated spending. Last night, responding to strong pressure from members responding themselves to pressure from the highway lobby. House Appropriations chair David Obey (D-WI) unveiled a spending bill that provides full funding for highways at the '07 levels. In the Senate, Environment and Public Works chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and ranking Republican James Inhofe initiated a letter calling for full funding; the letter has garnered 72 signatures in the 100-member body. The House bill should clear this week; the Senate, next. Highway agencies thus get their promised federal dollars and have had budgetary savings on winter maintenance in most areas so far this winter. For THEM, it's rosy, at least.
