WASHINGTON: Senate Passes highway bill over $350b over six years into projects .The Senate on approved a stopgap 3 month spending bill to finance federal highway and transportation projects until the end of October, leaving some frustrated lawmakers lamenting that important projects will be stalled.
But there were few alternatives given that a day earlier, the House passed funding for only three months, then left town until Labor Day. The Senate measure was approved, 91 to 4.The votes against the bill came from Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee, Mike Lee of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Jeff Sessions of Alabama, all Republicans.
Earlier on Thursday, the Senate voted, 65 to 34, for an alternative highway bill that would pump $350 billion over six years into projects for the nation’s roads and bridges.
That measure will be shelved until the fall, and House members have expressed strong reservations about its funding provisions, which would cover only the first three years of spending.
