posted on May 17, 2005 02:26:23 PM new
ITS ABOUT TIME BUSH SPENDS OUR TAX DOLLARS ON AMERICA AND NOT ONLY FOR RICH AMERICANS AND IRAQ. WAY TO GO BOTH SENATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
Senate Defies Bush, Approves Highway Bill
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 4:23 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By JIM ABRAMS
The Republican-controlled Senate brushed aside a presidential veto threat Tuesday and passed a $295 billion highway bill, arguing that massive spending on bigger and better roads was necessary to fight congestion and unsafe roadways.
The administration, while pressing Congress to pass a new highway bill, said the Senate version was too expensive in a time of war and debt and could result in the first veto of the Bush presidency.
The vote was 89-11 with a majority of Republicans joining Democrats in approving the six-year package that the administration said was $11 billion above what it would accept.
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, described himself as one of the most conservative members of Congress but said he was at odds with the administration because "there are two areas where we need to spend money. One is national defense and the other is infrastructure."
In addition to granting money to states to repair and build roads and bridges, the bill provides more than $50 billion for public transit, funds recreational road programs and promotes highway safety.
"This bill will have an impact on every city and every town and every state." said Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., the minority leader on the Environment Committee. "I urge President Bush to reconsider his veto threat against this legislation."
The Senate vote was in some ways a repeat of last year, when the senators approved a bill well above what the White House deemed affordable. In the end no compromise was reached with Congress, and lawmakers have had to pass six temporary extensions of the old six-year act, which expired on Sept. 30, 2003.
The House in March passed a $284 billion bill, the maximum amount the White House says it will accept without a veto. The Senate, in adding $11 billion, said it had come up with new revenues for the highway trust fund _ the principal source of money for federal highway grants to the states _ without adding to the deficit.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan repeated the veto threat Tuesday, saying the president was "very serious" about following a fiscally responsible budget.
Before the final vote, the Senate rejected, by 84-16, a proposed amendment by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., that would have shrunk the bill back to $284 billion.
With 20 months gone since the last highway bill, there is growing pressure to come up with a compromise. The latest extension runs out on May 31.
"We've already lost one spring construction season in Michigan and we certainly don't want to lose another one," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
"We are going to get a bill," House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, said.
Senate leaders sought to pass the highway bill before entering debate over the use of the filibuster to block judicial nominations, an issue that could seriously disrupt the legislative agenda.
There was no dispute over the need for a new highway program: Poor road conditions are a factor in one-third of the 42,000 traffic fatalities every year, and road congestion costs the nation billions in productivity and wasted fuel, studies indicate.
The legislation funds many relatively small programs _ bike routes to schools, covered bridges, ferry terminals _ as well as programs to promote fuel-efficient vehicles and authorize tolls to finance new interstate lanes.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., won approval of an amendment that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to update fuel economy testing to reflect real-life driving conditions. Gas mileage stickers on new cars now inflate true fuel economy performance by 10 percent to 30 percent.
The Senate also confirmed, in a vote Tuesday, a provision that would increase grants for safety programs to states that allow police to stop motorists who don't wear seat belts even when there is no other traffic violation.
The House bill, unlike the Senate version, includes some 4,000 specific projects, worth some $12 billion, that were requested by lawmakers for their districts.
These projects, cited by fiscal conservatives as "pork," will be one sticking point as House and Senate negotiators try to work out a compromise.
Another difference that must be resolved is the formula by which the federal government divides up money from the highway trust fund for the states. The trust fund comes from the 18.4 cents a gallon federal gas tax, and about half the states, mainly from fast-growing or heavily traveled areas, complain that they pay more into the fund than they get back from Washington.
posted on May 17, 2005 04:36:47 PM new
This just goes to show you bigpeepa that it isn't a Democratic congress or a Republican congress. When something needs to get done they ban together.
This wasn't a victory or a loss it shows that roads need repair and both parties are for it.
Being a republican I can and I am sure Linda can also understand that there are certain ideas that we don't go along with with the Republican Party, unlike you and the democratic party. That isn't a victory for the democrats. Get over it. It is a victory for the American People.
BTW why can't you post normally instead of screaming all the time.
Don't forget your seat belts. The Highway Patrol will be out in full force on Memorial Day Weekend and if you don't have yours on it could mean a stiff fine.
posted on May 17, 2005 04:49:37 PM new
especially if you're a democrat
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on May 17, 2005 05:05:11 PM new
Libra - I do agree that both sides agreed on this issue...according to how the vote went. I don't agree with it though.
AND I find it laughable that the same one's who are always complaining about the HUGE deficit the Bush administration has created....are the ones now cheering spending MORE, once again, on this bill. That's them though....complain about spending, but vote for more of it.
I hope the President veto's it....sends it back to be passed with LESS funding.
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Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on May 17, 2005 05:15:03 PM new
But, it is okay with you that we spend that money instead in Iraq, right Linda? I'm sure you could find yourself some nice affordable housing over there. Soon you'll have brand new schools, hospitals, roads. . .too bad you'll have to travel to the Middle East to see what YOUR money is buying.
This is good news, bigpeepa. It's OUR money that's going over to Iraq. Not Bush's. I want MY money spent here where it belongs.
posted on May 17, 2005 05:17:57 PM new
Bush is supposed to veto this bill if the amount stays over 284 million.
Of course they can override the veto, if they wanted to.
I don't think Bush will veto the bill though, but remind people that congress are the ones spending with disregard to the deficit.
takes some of the pressure off of him.
posted on May 17, 2005 06:18:03 PM new
I agree, Ron. But he said he would veto it and I hope he keeps his word.
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[i]But, it is okay with you that we spend that money instead in Iraq, right Linda[i]?
We're at WAR right now with Iraq, cheryl....so yes...I'd rather see this funding going towards that effort rather than more pork spending. That's all this is and exactly why it has so much support from both sides. It's pork for all 50 states. Much of it set for projects in different states that the states COULD/SHOULD be taking care of themselves.
With the high deficit we are now facing...this is UN-NEEDED in these amounts during war time. Imo, this is an area that needs no immediate solutions...where as National security and our war efforts do.
I'm sure you could find yourself some nice affordable housing over there. Soon you'll have brand new schools, hospitals, roads. . .too bad you'll have to travel to the Middle East to see what YOUR money is buying.
Sounds like jealouse to me, cheryl. The left is usually complaining how we tear things down/bomb/destroy countries and then DON'T rebuild them. Now you're sounding jealous that we're going to do what the dems are always saying we don't do. Going to have to make up your mind. Can't be both ways. Maybe you should be discussing this with helen....who feels we own the ME countries we've invaded everything they need.
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Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on May 17, 2005 06:34:52 PM new
Libra63 said "Being a republican I can and I am sure Linda can also understand that there are certain ideas that we don't go along with with the Republican Party"
No kidding. If your statement is true we all would love to see your and Linda_K's list of things you both don't agree with your republican party about. I am hoping to see something for you and Linda_K that other posters can agree with you ladies about. Once again the L sisters are speaking for each other again.
Libra63 also said "That isn't a victory for the democrats. Get over it."
Hey Libra, Please show me where I said this article was a victory for Democrats?
What do I need to get over about this article? Your mind set is showing again. Since you didn't understand what my words said see them again below.
ITS ABOUT TIME BUSH SPENDS OUR TAX DOLLARS ON AMERICA AND NOT ONLY FOR RICH AMERICANS AND IRAQ. WAY TO GO BOTH SENATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
posted on May 18, 2005 12:21:39 AM new
Most Hilarious Post of the Month ...and the winner is ...LINDUH for:
"""I'd rather see this funding going towards that effort rather than more pork spending. """
Oh my goodness! Yuppers ! Ain't no pork barrels in Iraq...no siree! Ha he he hee hee ! No 8.9 billion unaccounted for....no graft, no Halliburton, nobody pocketing money and just walking away without having delivered what they were paid for......no siree....and now just where and how do we find an accounting of what money went where....well, folks, we CAN'T !
posted on May 18, 2005 06:02:13 AM new
Once again Libra63 said this. "Being a republican I can and I am sure Linda can also understand that there are certain ideas that we don't go along with with the Republican Party"
Now she can't defend her statement. LOL All she can now post is just more of the same old BULL ROAR.
Hey Crow, the L sisters are getting hammered from all sides. Linda_K just got caught making one of her famous copy and paste look like it came from the AP when it really came from some right wing site. She shouldn't pretend to worry about pork when she is getting poked time after time these days. You are right the L sisters are so desperate and funny trying to speak for each other these days. The most funny thing is no one has done it to them, like their failed leaders they have done it to themselves.
posted on May 18, 2005 09:32:39 AM newto see something for you and Linda_K that other posters can agree with you ladies about.
Well, peepa, WHEN and IF you dems ever come up with any ideas of your own, rather than only complaining and whining about what the republican propose....maybe that day will come.
Until then...if the dems can't LEAD then they should at least get out of the way and let government business carry on.
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Libra63 said "Being a republican I can and I am sure Linda can also understand that there are certain ideas that we don't go along with with the Republican Party"
I'm stating that YOU are correct...just for the record, since SOME appear unable to read or comprehend what's typed.
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Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on May 18, 2005 01:26:23 PM new
Linda_K and Libra63 the L sisters. Since you both speak for each other I will ask you both the same question. Are you saying Democrats should get out of your parties way like about Bush's Judges? Lets keep the matter correct. Bush asked to have 218 judges appointed and the Democrats threaten to filibuster only 10 of those Judges. Looks like this is what you and your failed leaders consider getting in your way?
Yes ladies you and your failed leaders are saying get out of our way or we will make new laws to force you Democrats out of our way like it or not.
