Senate Overwhelmingly Passes $295 Billion Highway Bill Amid Threat of Presidential Veto

Washington DC May 17, 2005; AIADA reported that the Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to approve a long-awaited highway funding bill, which amounts to $295 billion over the next six years -- a figure most likely to receive the cold shoulder from the White House as it exceeds the $284 billion limit the administration set back at the beginning of negotiations, reports the Associated Press. “Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the $11 billion gap between the House and Senate numbers was "a very small difference and that’s a great advantage to start" the negotiations.” More from AP: “The House in March approved a $284 billion package, the maximum level the administration deemed acceptable. In addition, the House bill is fundamentally different, setting aside $12 billion for some 4,000 specific projects that lawmakers contend are vital to their districts...” Presently, Congress is on its sixth temporary extension of the 1998-2003 highway funding bill, unable to come to an agreement between the two chambers. The most recent extension is set to expire May 31.