transportation bills

------ Original Message ------
Received: 06:40 PM CST, 02/03/2012
From: Vince May
To: TCLPActive@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [TCLPActive] House Committee on Ways & Means

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=277596

The House Ways and Means Committee (very powerful) voted in a new
transportation funding formula today. It strips _all transit funding_
out of the Highway Trust Fund, meaning about 20% more federal money will
be available for roads over the next 5 years. (More funding _may_
actually materialize since the bill would also divert certain oil and
gas royalties _into the Trust Fund_.) Transit would be funded out of
general revenues which are getting tighter.

HR 3864 passed out of committee today 20 -17, with 2 republicans joining
the 15 losing dems.
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Motion_to_Commit_02.03.12.pdf
The text:
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/H_R__3864.pdf

A dem amendment failed 22 - 15. (Probably a pro transit amendment.)
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Blumenauer_Rangel_Tally_02.03.12.pdf

Another dem amendment also failed 22 - 15.
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Neal_Tally_02.03.12.pdf

Looks pretty good, so far. But other committees and the full house have
to vote in coming weeks. Then it becomes a fight with the Senate.

Vince