WASHINGTON — House Transportation Committee chairman Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., will introduce a three-month extension of temporary law reauthorizing highway and transit programs — the ninth such extension — before the end of the month.
“Tomorrow, I will introduce a short-term extension through June 30 to ensure continuity of current programs while I and House Republicans continue to work toward a responsible transportation bill that provides long-term certainty, reduces the size of government, eliminates earmarks, and is fully paid for,” Mica said in release.
Though lawmakers and transportation lobbyists had hoped to avoid another short-term extension of highway legislation since the previous law expired on Sept. 30, 2009, they felt it was a foregone conclusion that one would be needed after a five-year, $260 billion bill sponsored by Mica drew staunch opposition and failed to advance.
Senate leaders and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood have called on House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to adopt a bipartisan two-year, $109 billion bill that passed the Senate last week.
Boehner has publicly toyed with the idea of introducing the Senate bill, which was backed by Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and James Inhofe, R-Okla. However, House Republican aides have said leadership will introduce a modified version of Mica’s bill sometime after mid-April.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the House Transportation Committee are expected to soon introduce a version of the Senate bill in the House.
