Ben Goldman follows the recent developments as the Senate and House Transportation bills make their way through the Capitol.
The Senate Transportation bill dubbed MAP-21 got through its first real test yesterday with flying bi-partisan colors, in stark contrast to the reception the GOP crafted House bill has received.
As Goldman reports, "Today saw a massive mobilization of opposition to House Speaker John Boehner's five-year disaster of a transportation bill, even as he defended it at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 85-11 to move forward with Senator Barbara Boxer's two-year reauthorization proposal."
Although the Senate bill is far from perfect, according to non-motorized transportation advocates, it takes a much more balanced approach to environmental and modality issues than the draconian House bill.
A full vote in the Senate is expected some time next week.
FULL STORY: Senate Transportation Bill Clears First Floor Vote, 85-11
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research