Senate Kills Obama's $60 Billion Infrastructure Plan

Senate Republicans killed legislation backed by President Obama to spend $60 billion on building and repairing roads and other infrastructure.

The vote passed 51-49, short of the 60 votes required under Senate rules to debate the measure.

Opposed by 47 Republicans and one Democrat and Independent, the bill would have provided an immediate $50 billion investment in roads, bridges, rail lines, airports and transit systems.

It also called for a $10 billion “infrastructure bank” to use private and public capital for longer-term projects and would have been financed by a 0.7% surcharge on incomes over $1 million.

Separately, Democrats killed a measure offered by Republicans to extend federal highway funding for two years, by a 53-47 vote.

Federal highway spending authority is scheduled to expire in February.

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Senate Measure Would Block HOS Rule

A provision set to be introduced in the Senate would stop the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from implementing its plan to revise the hours-of-service rule.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) filed paperwork Monday saying she would introduce a provision to a funding bill that would require that “none of the funds made available under this heading may be used to finalize, enforce, or implement the Hours of Service regulations proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on December 29, 2010,” the amendment reads.

The funding bill would provide money for transportation and housing programs for 2012.

An Ayotte spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that Ayotte had filed the amendment, but did not provide further details.

House Republican leaders John Boehner (Ohio) and Eric Cantor (Va.) earlier this month asked the Obama administration to withdraw the proposed hours-of-service rule.

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