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Congress OKs Funding Fix For Highways

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

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

The House passed the measure with a 376-29 vote Thursday, a day after the Senate overcame objections of 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 been threatening to veto the measure, calling it "both a gimmick and a dangerous precedent that shifts costs from users to taxpayers at large."

The administration shifted positions after Transportation Secretary Mary Peters last week 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 Associated Press

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