Prospects Disappear For Highway Bill Passage This Year
Barring a legislative miracle, there is no hope that a transportation funding bill will be enacted this year. Both Republican and Democratic Senate sources Nov. 17 said that it is unlikely an agreement will be reached by weeks end when Congress recesses for the year.
Sen. James M. Jeffords (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Sen. Environment and Public Works Committee, said the Democrats were ready to go. But Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) said the conference committee negotiating a final bill has two GOP holdouts. Inhofe declined to identify the lawmakers, but Democratic sources point to Senators Richard Shelby of Alabama, Christopher Bond of Missouri and John McCain of Arizona. If we can get a couple of Democrats to sign a conference agreement wed be in good shape, Inhofe said.