Bush to OK $8B for highway fund
Washington: Opponents blame crisis on earmarks
Bill ensures projects won't be interrupted.
Bush to OK $8B for highway fund

By The Associated Press

Published: September 12, 2008

WASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday sent President Bush an $8 billion rescue package for the federal highway trust fund. The infusion comes as the trust fund, which relies on declining revenues from the federal gas tax, verges on going broke, threatening road and bridge projects in every state.

The House passed the measure on a 376-29 vote Thursday, a day after the Senate overcame objections from conservative senators and passed it on a voice vote. The legislation transfers $8 billion from the Treasury's general fund to the highway fund, ensuring that ongoing construction projects won't be interrupted.

The White House had previously threatened to veto the measure, calling it "both a gimmick and a dangerous precedent that shifts costs from users to taxpayers at large.”

But the administration shifted positions after Transportation Secretary Mary Peters revealed that the trust fund would run out of money this month, which would delay payments to states for infrastructure projects and threaten the jobs of thousands of construction workers.

"The trust fund is broke, out of money. Our state and local governments, drivers, construction workers and many others suffer when highway projects are delayed,” said Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.

The few opponents of the bill blamed the current crisis on the 6,300 earmarks worth some $24 billion, included in the $286 billion highway bill Congress passed in 2005. That bill expires next year.

Democrats in turn thanked the White House and Republicans for letting the stalled bill move forward.

"I'm glad the Republicans came to their senses — you can't play politics with 300,000 jobs when we're in a recession,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calf., chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

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