Lawmakers Pony Up for Major Transportation Spending

By a margin of 417 to 9, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved an updated national transportation spending bill that will provide the country with new roads, parking, rail, and countless other state-specific needs for the future. The bill calls for $284 billion in spending through 2009. Legislators added a provision that would allow them to increase that amount if necessary. "It is much-needed legislation that will move our country toward a stronger economy," said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young, whose home state of Alaska is one of the big winners in the House bill. President Bush has threatened to use his veto power for the first time if costs rise above the agreed upon $284 billion. In addition to updating and adding capacity to the national's transportation infrastructure, the bill will create thousands of new jobs. According to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, for every $1 billion spent on road construction, nearly 48,000 jobs are created.

Thanks to Peter Buryk