R.G. Edmonson | Jan 04, 2011 2:12PM EST
Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, will offer a rules amendment to the House Republican conference Tuesday afternoon aimed at preserving highway spending through the Highway Trust Fund. The conference is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m.
The proposal would ease the fear that the House could control infrastructure spending year by year and would continue to allow multi-year transportation legislation to determine the priorities for highway infrastructure spending. However, the amendment also allows House members to propose spending cuts as amendments on the House floor.
LaTourette is a past member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In the 111th Congress he served on the House Appropriations Committee.
A large coalition of transportation and related groups last week wrote to House leaders to strongly object to the rules change.
In a letter Tuesday from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, President T. Peter Ruane said LaTourette's amendment ensures the "Highway Trust Fund lives within its means," and any cuts would be made through the transparent process of House floor amendments.
Ruane also urged Congress to pass a new multi-year transportation bill without delay.
-- Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.
