Recent Streetsblog SF posts about U.S. Senate

Senate Starts Work on New Transport Bill, With House Version as a Guide

By Elana Schor | Mar 3, 2010 | No Comments

The Senate today took its first steps towards voting on a new long-term federal transportation bill, with environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) vowing to take up a successor to the 2005 infrastructure law before 2011 and indicating she would use the House’s already-introduced version as a framework. Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA), […]

TCS: Disputed Transport Provision in Jobs Bill Rewarded Political Clout

By Elana Schor | Mar 2, 2010 | No Comments

A provision in the Senate jobs bill that would distribute $932 million in 2010 transportation funding based on existing earmarks is in line for a quick fix, thanks to a deal struck on Friday between House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Democratic leaders in the upper chamber. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), […]

Transportation Filibuster Update: Bunning Won’t Yield to Fellow GOPer

By Elana Schor | Mar 2, 2010 | No Comments

Federal infrastructure funding and many U.S. DOT workers remain in limbo today as Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) continues his one-man filibuster of legislation extending the 2005 transport law, turning himself into a Democratic target and a poster child for Washington gridlock. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) was heard quipping "tough s—t" as he began blocking an […]

LaHood Backs Feingold’s Plan to Cancel Unspent Transport Earmarks

By Elana Schor | Feb 26, 2010 | No Comments

When a member of Congress earmarks transportation money for a local project, the funding isn’t always spent in a timely manner. The Bush administration’s final budget proposed to cancel road earmarks that had sat largely unspent for 10 years, a move that would have freed up $626 million, according to Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). A […]

The Big Question: What is the Purpose of Federal Transportation Spending?

By Elana Schor | Feb 26, 2010 | No Comments

With the White House’s agenda crowded by high-profile debates that remain unresolved after lengthy talks with Congress — think health care, financial regulation, even unemployment benefits — only a handful of lawmakers are publicly engaging with the dominant issues surrounding the next long-term federal transportation bill. (Photo: UVA) Within that group of lawmakers, however, there […]

Little-Known Provision in Senate Jobs Bill Could Spark House Resistance

By Elana Schor | Feb 24, 2010 | No Comments

The Senate passed its jobs bill today by a 70-28 vote, bringing Congress one step closer to a $20 billion transfer that would keep the nation’s highway trust fund solvent until 2011 and extend the 2005 federal transportation law. House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Photo: Capitol Chatter) The bill’s future in the House […]

Show More Stories