AASHTO Journal, 23 March 2012
Senator Barbara Boxer, D-California and Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, was joined by colleagues and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and on Wednesday to call on the House to take action on a transportation bill.
Democrats in the Senate have denounced the idea of an extension, pressing for the House to move forward on a full transportation bill now.
“The House is considering a short term extension,” said Sen. Boxer. “This is disruptive. It creates uncertainty. We have letters from business people. We have letters from the states. It will create havoc.”
Sec. LaHood echoed Sen. Boxer’s comments. “We’re going to continue the drumbeat – no extensions,” he said. “If the House were to pass an extension, it would be a death knell for states really getting people back to work quickly on projects that need to be done… The quickest, easiest way to get people back to work is to pass the bipartisan Senate bill.”
When asked by reporters if Sen. Boxer and her colleagues would not accept an extension, she reiterated the effect of extensions on the economy and unemployment. “What I’m saying is that we all totally agree with the comments of the Secretary,” she said. “Extensions are a death knell for jobs, and that’s our feeling.”