House Oks $218.3 Billion Highway Bill

Critics say it's loaded with old-fashioned pork, but the measure passes by an overwhelming margin

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 1) -- The House Wednesday night overwhelmingly approved a massive, $218.3 billion highway bill that critics called a wasteful return to pork-barrel politics. The vote was 337-80.

The measure (HR2400), endorsed by the Republican leadership, would finance a slew of highway and mass transit projects over the next six years. Voting in favor of the measure were 171 Democrats, 165 Republicans and one independent. Voting no were 26 Democrats and 54 Republicans.

"America is growing and prospering, but our infrastructure is crumbling," said Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Penn.), chair of the House Transportation Committee and chief architect of the bill.

"Don't believe this baloney that we somehow break the budget," Shuster said on the House floor. Only 5 percent of the money goes to congressional high-priority projects, he said.

Shuster tweaked "self-righteous" colleagues who, he said, have both castigated the bill and requested projects for their districts.

But the White House warned the proposed level of spending is 43 percent higher than for the previous six years, and higher than recommended by President Bill Clinton.

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ALSO:

Proposed West Virginia Highway Under Fire

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Budget Director Franklin Raines said the proposed funding was "dramatically higher than the president's levels and we urge both the House and the Senate to pause and take a deep breath and consider how we're going to pay for this."

The bill would exceed spending caps in last year's balanced budget agreement, according to varying estimates, by between $26 billion and $33 billion, and force offsetting cuts in other federal programs. But until lawmakers negotiate a final version with the Senate, they won't say where those cuts could be. The Senate already has passed a $214 billion version of the legislation.

Critics pointed to $9 billion worth of so-called "demonstration projects" in the House bill as nothing more than old-style pork barrel projects requested by House members for their districts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wednesday April 1, 1998

• Judge Tosses Out Jones' Lawsuit
• Jones Decision Raises Questions About Starr Probe
• Congressional Reaction Split Along Party Lines
• Judge: Jones' Case A Legal Strike Out
• 'Filegate' Depositions Sought From White House Aides
• House Approves $218.3 Billion Highway Bill
• Proposed West Virginia Highway Under Fire
• White House Supports News Media's Request
• Clinton's Attorney 'A Street Fighter'
• Starr Investigation Costs Just Shy of $30 Million
• White House To Announce Grants To Combat Youth Drunken Driving

Poll:
• Most Americans Support Judge's Decision On Jones' Lawsuit

Profile:
• Judge In Jones' Case Known for Sticking to the Law

Transcript:
• Mike McCurry Reacts To Judge's Ruling