James Oberstar
‘The Concrete is Cracking’: Front-Loaded New Transport Bill Gains Steam
With the U.S. unemployment rate hitting 10.2 percent today, its highest level in 26 years, a palpable shift is occurring on Capitol Hill.
November 6, 2009
Transportation Policy Becomes the Proverbial Tree Falling in the Forest
Halfway through this afternoon's rally in support of a new federal transportation bill, there came an accidental but telling moment. A group of tourists, attracted by the hundreds of orange flags planted in the National Mall for the rally, walked through the event and whispered questions to attendees about its purpose. Once their curiosity was sated, the group lost interest and ambled away.
October 28, 2009
Transport Policy Update: Senate to Pass 6-Month Extension This Week
Before week's end, the Senate will pass a six-month extension of the nation's four-year-old transportation law -- setting the stage for another showdown with the House, where transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar remains on the fence about abandoning the push for a new long-term bill before 2010.
October 27, 2009
Senate Signals 6-Month Delay for Transport Bill — But Will the House Agree?
The Senate is leaning towards abandoning the Obama administration's push for an 18-month delay of the next long-term transportation bill and now plans to pursue a six-month extension of existing federal infrastructure law, according to a report from CQ this afternoon:
October 23, 2009
Spending Transportation Stimulus Money Fast vs. Spending it Well
How fast is the economic stimulus law's $48 billion in transportation aid being spent -- and is it being spent on the right projects? The relative importance of those two questions made for lively debate in the House transportation committee yesterday.
October 2, 2009
Deja Vu: Congress Could Put Off Deal on Transport Bill Until Next Month
After a day of twists and turns, the House yesterday approved a three-month extension of the current law that governs spending on the nation's transit, bridges, and roads. Yet the 335-85 vote obscures an ongoing clash between the House and Senate that could extend into a fourth straight month.
September 24, 2009
Oberstar’s 3-Month Transport Bill Extension Heading to House Floor
A three-month extension of existing federal infrastructure law -- which is set to expire in eight days -- is headed for a vote in the full House this week, likely as soon as tomorrow, according to a spokesman for transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN).
September 22, 2009
Oberstar to Back 3-Month Delay in Transport Bill As Soon As Next Week
House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) is readying a proposal to extend current infrastructure law by three months -- 15 months less than the delay preferred by the White House -- and could introduce the legislation as soon as next week, his office said today.
September 17, 2009
Oberstar Stands Firm on Transportation Bill, Gets Industry Backup
In case any doubts remained about his willingness to challenge the White House and the Senate on prompt passage of a long-term infrastructure bill, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-MN) op-ed in the Politico this morning should clear them up:
September 14, 2009
Succumbing to Senate Pressure, House Boosts Trust Fund Rescue to $7B
The House just approved its short-term fix for the nation's highway trust fund by a vote of 363-68 ... but something happened on the way to the floor: What began as a $5 billion rescue became a $7 billion one.
July 29, 2009