Mark Szakonyi, Associate Editor | Apr 16, 2012 11:05AM EDT
The House is expected to vote Wednesday on another 90-day funding extension for surface transportation programs, giving members the option to begin conferencing with their Senate counterparts.
If the extension is granted, the House can use the framework of its proposed five-year, $260 billion spending plan to negotiate with the Senate’s two-year, $109 billion bill, according to Congressional Quarterly. But because the extension is a vote of confidence for the House plan, which includes the controversial expansion of domestic energy production, many Democrats are expected to vote against the three-month Band-Aid, according to Transportation Issues Daily (subscriber-only story).
The difficulties the House has in reaching an accord further dampens expectations that Congress will able to pass a surface transportation bill this year. The chances Congress can come to an agreement lessen as partisan posturing intensifies ahead of the presidential election.
Contact Mark Szakonyi at mszakonyi@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @Szakonyi_JOC.
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