(The following story by Colby Itkowitz appeared on the Congressional Quarterly website on July 29, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Senate appropriations subcommittee is expected to approve on Wednesday a fiscal 2010 spending measure with $67.7 billion in discretionary funding for transportation and housing programs.
The Senate draft would provide about $1.1 billion less in discretionary spending than the bill (HR 3288) that passed in the House last week.
Neither Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, nor Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, the panel’s ranking Republican, would discuss the contents of the bill as staff members continued writing it Tuesday.
Bond said he was waiting to see if “there’s anything there that lights a fire.”
One potential sticking point could arise if the Senate panel follows the House lead and increases funding for high-speed rail grants beyond President Obama’s request.
The House bill provides $4 billion for high-speed rail, in addition to $8 billion that was part of the economic stimulus (PL 111-5). Obama had asked for only an additional $1 billion in his fiscal 2010 budget request.
Some Senate Republicans, including John McCain of Arizona, have opposed proposals to boost funding for rail projects, contending that passenger rail service should be privatized.
The House bill also provides an additional $150 million for Washington’s Metrorail system in response to the June commuter rail crash that killed nine people. If the Senate chooses to include that money, it could create contention when the bill comes to the Senate floor.
Last year, Tom Coburn, R-Okla., blocked the Senate from clearing an Amtrak reauthorization bill by unanimous consent because he objected to a $1.5 billion allocation for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The Senate eventually overcame the objection by voting to invoke cloture.
With action on legislation reauthorizing highway, transit and aviation programs unresolved, the Senate panel will likely mirror the House and fund those activities with only small inflationary increases.
Under Murray’s leadership, the panel may also join the House in providing increases for low-income housing programs. Democrats say these programs were underfunded under the George W. Bush administration.
The markup is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in 138 Dirksen.