Senate OKs $1 billion to repair bridges

[kysrsoze]

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON - The Senate approved $1 billion on Monday to speed repair and replacement of America's crumbling network of bridges, six weeks after the Interstate 35W span collapsed in Minneapolis.

(snip)

"Our bridges are deteriorating far faster than we can finance their replacement," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., lead sponsor of the bridge-repair funds. "More than one in every four bridges on U.S. highways is rated as deficient."

If approved, the Democratic plan would boost federal funding next year for bridge repair and replacement by 20 percent, but would barely make a dent in the $65 billion nationwide backlog of bridge repairs identified by the Department of Transportation.





Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20719867/

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Ummm... BFD?

Why am I not surprised by the following:

Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., countered that lawmakers "should not overreact to the Minnesota bridge collapse by spending more money ... than is available."

White House budget office spokesman Sean Kevelighan said the Bush administration opposes the idea since it would speed up the depletion of the highway trust fund.

[indepat]

1. $1B toward $65B now needed for bridge repair: another $50B for juniors pre-emptive war equal madness

insanity, delusion, idiocy imo.

[LeftHander]

2. In Iraq....Halliburton gets the open contract bid.....nt

[slackmaster]

3. Don't you just love reactive government?

I feel so warm and fuzzy inside knowing Congress is thinking of the public's interests.

[kysrsoze]

4. What kills me is that asshat * is expected to veto the bill. Unbelievable

How can one man care so much about us all?

[maseman]

5. Senate OKs $1 billion to repair bridges

Source: MSNBC/AP

WASHINGTON - The Senate approved $1 billion on Monday to speed repair and replacement of America's crumbling network of bridges, six weeks after the Interstate 35W span collapsed in Minneapolis.

The Senate approved the funds on a 60-33 vote as the Senate began debate on a $104.6 billion measure funding transportation and housing programs for the budget year beginning Oct. 1.

"Our bridges are deteriorating far faster than we can finance their replacement," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., lead sponsor of the bridge-repair funds. "More than one in every four bridges on U.S. highways is rated as deficient."



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20719867/

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We almost need a Roosevelt era domestic projects act taht will put people to work and fix our ailing infrastructure. Gee, we are 1/65th of the budget there.

[BOSSHOG]

6. If a bridge collapses in a neighborhood or an interstate near a town

then the townfolks need to roll up their sleeves and fix the bridge themselves and pay for it themselves. To hell with this government intrusion. We can't expect rich conservative republican businessmen to pay taxes to fix everything that goes wrong in America. And if your sick, tough, either pay for your medical bills out of pocket or die. Oh and God Bless America.

[Dr.Phool]

9. Give the bridge to Halliburton.

Then award a contract to them to fix it. Then they can re-open it as a toll bridge. The tolls can be used to maintain the bridge and Dick Cheney too.

[Kagemusha]

7. Wonder if Bush will find a way to oppose this spending.

It's good government. Bush is virtually required to oppose it.

[maxsolomon]

8. ain't gonna cut it - the need is 100x that

stop putting iraq on a credit card.

[ClintonTyree]

10. And $I Trillion to destroy Iraq.....

and stuff the pockets of Republican cronies. Sounds like a good deal. :banghead:

[trusty elf]

11. Bridge Over Shrubbled Waters

How much will it cost to fix this mess?

[DrDan]

12. what is that 2 1/2 days or so on juniors debacle . . .

you can bet he gave in grudgingly . . .

[Earth_First]

13. The problem that the * mis-administration has with the FY-08 Transportation/HUD appropriations bill:

In short:

In being tied to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it includes 4.4 billion dollars more than the President* request for: pipeline oversight, rail safety, lead paint abatement, VA homeless programs and a plethora of appropriations for 'You and Me'.

http://appropriations.senate.gov/News/2007_07_12_Transportation_HUD_Funding_Bill_Unanimously_Cleared_by_Appropriations_Committee.pdf?CFID=7462030&CFTOKEN=23171097

EXPECT a full veto or line-item veto on this sucker...