Transportation bill sidelined by healthcare reform

Bill faces uphill battle

Steve Hawley, Jul 16, 09.

The House Ways and Means Committee has temporarily sidelined the transportation reauthorization bill so it can work on healthcare reform, according to The Hill. The committee would be in charge of funding the proposed $500 billion transportation bill.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, has insisted on passing a new transportation bill this year, although it has met stiff resistance from the Obama administration and the Senate. However, several Ways and Means Committee members expressed doubt that their committee will get to the transportation reauthorization this year.

The existing law - the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) - expires at the end of September, and the Highway Trust Fund is expected to run out of money in mid-August. The Obama administration has called for an 18-month extension of SAFETEA-LU that would also provide emergency funding for the Highway Trust Fund and include several reforms. Key senators have also expressed their desire for an 18-month extension, although without the reforms.