Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar are both enlisting powerful allies in their ongoing clash over the reauthorization of the federal Highway Trust Fund, as the battle lines harden in Congress. LaHood has enlisted the support of Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Vermont Governor James Douglas, chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Governors Association Economic Development and Commerce Committee, in favor of a proposed $10 billion, 18 month temporary patch for the fund while seeking a way forward during the long term by finding new revenue sources other than an increase in motor fuel taxes. At the same time, Oberstar, with the support of the American Association of Port Authorities and the Laborers International Union of North America, forges ahead today with a subcommittee markup of his 775 page, six year, $450 billion reauthorization measure, which he proposes to move to the House floor before Labor Day.
Boxer's committee on the Senate side is far in Oberstar's dust in terms of legislative drafting, which makes her a prime candidate to support LaHood's band aid proposal. Meanwhile, House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel will hold a hearing on highway and transit financing tomorrow. This will be a pitched battle, and the outcome will be extremely meaningful, one way or the other, for the construction industry.
Boxer's committee on the Senate side is far in Oberstar's dust in terms of legislative drafting, which makes her a prime candidate to support LaHood's band aid proposal. Meanwhile, House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel will hold a hearing on highway and transit financing tomorrow. This will be a pitched battle, and the outcome will be extremely meaningful, one way or the other, for the construction industry.
