ROADS/BRIDGES: House passes highway-funding extension

The House of Representatives voted to keep highway funding alive on July 15.

By a 367-55 count, a $10.9 billion package was passed that will provide an uninterrupted cash flow into the Highway Trust Fund until May 2015. Pension smoothing, customs user fees and money coming from an account set up to deal with leaking underground storage tanks will generate the $10.9 billion.

The spotlight is now on the Senate, which still needs to pass its funding extension. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) did not hesitate to put pressure on the Democratic-charged chamber.

“If the president has a plan for a longer-term highway bill, he ought to get the Senate to pass it and then we will take a look at it,” he said. “But until then, giving speeches about a long-term highway bill is frankly just more rhetoric.”

President Obama proposed a four-year, $302 billion package a couple of months ago and has spent much of his summer promoting the idea.