House subcommittee approves record highway funding
The House transportation appropriations subcommittee this week unanimously approved legislation to jump federal highway spending to $40.2 billion, up $1.1 billion from this year. The level follows the statute-imposed guaranteed funding level required in the 2005 surface transportation reauthorization law, SAFETEA-LU. President Bush has threatened to veto any appropriations bill that exceeds his budget and this bill is currently $2.8 billion over the Administration's budget proposalthe total amount recommended in the Administration’s FY 2008 budget proposal. The transportation funding bill approved by the House subcommittee today exceeds the Administration’s request by $600 million for highways.