Senate approves FAA, highway funding extensions

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

Senate approved legislation on Thursday to temporarily renew funding for airport and highway improvement projects, averting threatened shutdowns of both programs and job cuts affecting thousands of construction and other workers.

The chamber approved the bill, 92-6, that conveyed legal authority for the government to extend the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Department programs through January and March respectively.

The stop-gap action also allows the government to continue collecting related airline ticket and auto gasoline taxes to fund the trust fund accounts that pay for infrastructure improvements and are under financial pressure.

(snip)
"This is a good day," said Barbara Boxer, Democratic chairman of the Senate Public Works Committee, which oversees the highway programs. "We showed we can work together."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/us-faa-congress-idUSTRE78E7ST20110915?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29

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Senate passes temporary FAA funding to avoid a shutdown
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/15/senate.faa.funding/index.html?iref=allsearch

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. Doesn't say anything about what the deal with Coburn and Rand

Paul was. My understanding is Coburn objected to money for bicycle and pedistrian infrastructure.

[cal04]

2. here's what I could find about that

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/15/senate.faa.funding/index.html?iref=allsearch
Coburn relented when promised the provision he opposed would be removed when a long-term funding measure is considered.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/senate_clears_disaster_aid_transportation_measures-208768-1.html?pos=hftxt
He reversed course after striking a deal with Democrats to include language in the long-term transportation authorization bill allowing states to opt out of the requirement.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/181935-senate-passes-faa-highway-bill-sends-to-white-house
In a compromise negotiated Thursday afternoon, Senate Democratic leaders agreed to allow Coburn and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to offer amendments on a separate disaster relief bill, and allowed Paul to offer two amendments to the FAA/highway bill.

[The Genealogist]

3. Looks like Rand's amendment was

"To decrease the authorizations of appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration to fiscal year 2008 levels." And it failed.

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00137