Senate Democrats Plan to Move Jobs Bill to the Floor Next Week

CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Feb. 4, 2010 – 1:15 p.m.
Senate Democrats Plan to Move Jobs Bill to the Floor Next Week
"Senate Democratic leaders said Thursday they will try to move jobs-focused legislation to the floor next week that would likely include business tax breaks and the extension of numerous economic stimulus measures that are set to expire.

Among the measures being eyed for the package are a new tax credit for business hiring, short-term extensions of federal unemployment insurance and COBRA health insurance subsidies for the unemployed, and an extension of the surface transportation authorization. Extensions of economic stimulus programs that give small businesses liberalized expensing rules and state and local governments assistance through a tax credit bond program also are in the mix.

Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., said he would like to see an initial vote on a jobs package on Feb. 8 — likely a procedural vote — and Senate passage before members leave town for the Presidents Day recess on Feb. 12. But that depends on Republican cooperation, since Democrats will lose their filibuster-proof 60 votes later today when Republican Scott P. Brown is sworn in to fill out the term of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy , D-Mass.

The move comes as Democrats face renewed pressure to address the still-struggling economy after their top agenda item, an overhaul of the health care system, was sidelined.

Reid’s top lieutenant, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin , D-Ill., challenged Republicans to agree to the move the initial package quickly. “This is a good faith offering on the Democratic side,” Durbin said. “Let’s put these on the floor and move them with a sense of urgency.”

Whether Republicans will allow that to happen remains unclear, and no legislative language has been unveiled yet. Republican tax writers want assurances that separate House-passed estate tax legislation will be brought up in the Senate in a timely fashion, and that the tax provisions aimed at stimulating the economy will be kept separate from spending provisions being advocated by Democratic leaders."

Florida to get $1.25 billion for high-speed rail

Florida to get $1.25 billion for high-speed rail
By BART JANSEN • Gannett Washington Bureau • January 28, 2010

WASHINGTON — Florida will get $1.25 billion for the state’s high-speed rail project, President Barack Obama will announce today when he visits Tampa.

The first phase of the project, from Tampa to Orlando, will construct 84 miles of track, build and enhance stations and buy equipment. The project is one of 13 large-scale projects spread across about 30 states that shared $8 billion.

Florida had requested $2.5 billion for a project that ultimately would link Tampa to Miami, through Orlando. Linking Tampa to Orlando is expected to cost $3.5 billion, and linking Orlando to Miami is expected to cost $8 billion.

"This will be one of the largest boosts to the state’s economy since Disney, since the interstate highway system," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Wednesday.

The National Association of Railroad Passengers commended Obama for investments intended to reduce congestion on highways and in airports. Rep. James Oberstar, who heads the House transportation committee, said improving rail service reduces congestion affecting long-distance flights.


"It’s very critical for the stimulus program, for job creation, for congestion reduction in our major metropolitan areas," said Oberstar, D-Minn. "Every one of (the grant awards) will result in moving passengers in under-500-mile corridors. That has a very significant impact for aviation."


Administration officials would not divulge funding details before Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden visit Tampa. Biden has overseen distribution of the $787 billion in economic stimulus money approved a year ago, which includes the $8 billion in grants for high-speed rail. Billions more could be approved in the future through routine budgeting decisions.


Cabinet members and senior administration officials will travel to communities across the country Thursday to highlight specific awards.


The goal of the Tampa-to-Orlando train route is to field up to 16 daily round trips, which would reach 168 mph. Travel time between the cities is projected to be less than an hour, compared to 90 minutes by car.


Other transportation corridors that received funding are: California for $2.34 billion, Washington and Oregon for $598 million, Illinois and Missouri for $1.13 billion, Minnesota and Wisconsin for $823 million, Ohio for $400 million, Michigan for $244 million, North Carolina and Virginia for $620 million, New York for $151 million, Maine for $35 million, Washington, D.C., to Boston for $112 million, Pennsylvania for $27 million, New England for $160 million and other regions for $27 million.


High-speed trains contain modern amenities and conveniences and can be faster and cheaper than other forms of transportation.


The Florida Department of Transportation indicated the project would create up to 23,000 construction and engineering jobs over four years, with additional permanent jobs supporting passenger service by 2014.

A Report from FHWA on the Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit

A Report from FHWA on the 2008 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit:
Conditions and Performance

can be found at the link below:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/2008cpr/index.htm

Stimulus Payouts through DOT Reach $8.26 Billion

Stimulus Payouts through DOT Reach $8.26 Billion
John D. Boyd | Jan 25, 2010 4:36PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
Washington | States | Government + Regulation | United States
"Pace slows to nearly half for infrastructure project reimbursements
Checks sent out to states for stimulus projects from the Department of Transportation reached $8.26 billion through Jan. 15, a gain of about $162 million from a week earlier.

That is a slowing of the weekly pace that DOT usually maintained in recent months, when it often made weekly payouts of $250 million and $300 million. It paid a total of $308 million in the first two weeks of January, after ending 2009 with disbursements totaling $7.96 billion.

DOT has authorized $33.5 billion in spending on transportation infrastructure construction projects, which are dominated by its grants for road and bridge upgrades but include transit and airport spending as well.

In addition, DOT is expected soon to announce $9.5 billion in grants for freight and passenger rail systems to expand the development of inter-city passenger train service, and to make investments in high-value freight intermodal and port projects. But those grant announcements have been delayed long past their initial autumn timetable, and DOT has never said exactly when it will award them.

Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration says it has authorized projects under the nearly year-old American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that are valued at $23 billion. FHWA says it has already disbursed nearly $5.6 billion in stimulus funds to states to repay them for materials and labor on highways and bridges, and is backing more than $15 billion in projects currently under construction.

The government said stimulus spending by all agencies as of Jan. 15 – for projects and entitlement programs – totaled $172 billion, while tax cuts had injected another $93 billion. The full program that became law in February 2009 is expected to cost about $787 billion in spending and tax cuts, and has so far cost $265 billion."
Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from http://www.joc.com/node/416234

From @RayLaHood

(via Twitter) Got ideas? Read our 2010 preview, let us know what's on your transportation agenda. http://bit.ly/4Yvj9S

Federal Legislation

H.R.3994 : To establish a program to reduce injuries and deaths caused by cellphone use and texting while driving.
Sponsor: Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Energy and Commerce
Latest Major Action: 11/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
________________________________________
H.R.4021 : To expand the Safe Routes to School Program to high schools.
Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 11/4/2009) Cosponsors (18)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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H.R.4104 : To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish and carry out a highway emergency responders safety grant program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Ellsworth, Brad [IN-8] (introduced 11/18/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
________________________________________
H.R.4153 : To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish national standards to prevent distracted driving, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 11/20/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
________________________________________
H.R.4367 : To alter requirements relating to recommendations for funding by the Federal Transit Administration of fixed guideway projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 12/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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S.J.RES.25 : A joint resolution granting the consent and approval of Congress to amendments made by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact.
Sponsor: Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] (introduced 12/24/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 12/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
________________________________________

States worry about federal transportation funds

States worry about federal transportation funds
BY RAJU CHEBIUM • GANNETT WASHINGTON BUREAU • DECEMBER 27, 2009

WASHINGTON — "The Obama administration says states shouldn't fret that 2010 will begin without a federal transportation law to replace the one that expired in September. But there's plenty of fretting anyway.
Planning for a new bridge, highway interchange or light rail line typically takes years, and states need to know early how much the federal government will chip in, transportation groups and state officials say. Otherwise, uncertainty puts the planning process on hold and pushes back construction dates.
"Our industry surveys tell us that contractors won't be able to do long-term planning to purchase equipment," said Jeffrey Solsby, spokesman for the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said states are getting billions this year for road, bridge and transit projects, which should tide them over until federal lawmakers write the new law and decide new spending amounts.
The main reason for the delay, LaHood said in a recent interview, is finding ways to pay for any new law.
Underscoring a position he outlined earlier this year, LaHood said the White House wants Congress to hold off work on a transportation bill for 18 months. That would delay the new bill until after the 2010 congressional elections. LaHood said the delay is necessary to give lawmakers sufficient time to find ways to fund the bill.
"The issue is really working with Congress on finding the money," LaHood said. "It's not as if the states have been lacking for opportunities. If they've had projects that were ready to go, we've given them . . . money."
As part of the $787 billion economic stimulus package Obama signed into law in February, states have received or are in line to get $48 billion for road, bridge, transit, high-speed rail and aviation projects. More than half that amount, $27 billion, is meant for road and bridge projects that are ongoing or on the verge of getting started.
A $1.1 trillion spending bill Obama signed into law in December contains $42 billion to improve and repair highways and bridges and $10 billion for transit projects, according to the House Appropriations Committee.
And a jobs bill the House passed in December would extend for a year the life of the six-year transportation law that expired Sept. 30. But the Senate isn't expected to take up that measure until January at the earliest, if they take it up at all.
Rep. James Oberstar, the Minnesota Democrat who chairs the House Transportation Committee, has written a six-year, $500 billion bill to overhaul and renew the transportation law. That bill leaves it up to the tax-writing committees to decide where to get the money.
The big question is whether Congress will raise the gasoline tax to fund the bill. Industry groups and an expert panel Congress set up recommended raising the tax from 18.4 cents a gallon, but House and Senate members are reluctant to consider a tax increase when the economy is limping.
Not every advocate is upset there isn't a new transportation law.
Joshua Schank of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington said the delay provides more time to work on truly reforming the way Congress pays for road, bridge and transit projects.
Congress doles out transportation money "more or less on a political basis," Schank said, echoing critics who say too much money is siphoned off for lawmakers' pet projects, or earmarks.
Congress, he said, should instead direct more money to states that meet their transportation needs while also sparking economic growth, protecting the environment, preventing accidents and improving connections among local and national road and rail networks.
"There is a real need for transformational reform," Schank said. "In some ways this (delay) is good because it gives us time to make some proposals that could fix the system."