Senate Sends Jobs Bill to White House

The Senate on Wednesday morning ended three months of political drama on transportation spending when it passed 68 – 29 a jobs bill that gives states assurance of highway and transit funding through the end of 2010. The bill received House approval two weeks ago and will now go to the president for signature.

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, a $15 billion jobs-incentive bill, extends the existing highway spending program, and transfers nearly $20 billion from the general fund to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through the end of fiscal 2011.

Since the six-year highway program expired Sept. 30, 2009, Congress voted three short-term extensions, which caused an outcry from states and the construction industry that without any certainty about funding they were unable to enter long-term contracts for infrastructure projects.

The nine-month extension will give the Senate time to draft a multi-year transportation bill. Although the Environment and Public Works Committee started hearings, it’s uncertain when lawmakers will complete a bill. Congress still must find a way to pay for legislation that could double current highway spending.

John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials, called the vote “a win for the economy and a win for workers and the communities which will benefit from the transportation projects to be built across the country.”

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.