Nelson: Job-Killing Gridlock Delaying Highway Bill

Press Release

Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson charged that political bickering in Washington over unrelated issues is holding up a major highway construction bill that could support thousands of jobs in Nebraska and nearly two million nationwide.

"It's just wrong the Senate has stalled on a major highway bill which is all about job creation and economic development at a time many Americans remain out of work and our economy isn't yet back on track," Senator Nelson said in his weekly conference call with the Nebraska media. "Holding up the highway bill is another example of what I've called job-killing partisan gridlock.

"We shouldn't be holding local and state entities hostage to more of Washington's partisan gridlock. That's a serious disservice to our constituents and the taxpayers," the senator said. "They deserve better."

The Senate stalled on the highway bill after the minority party insisted on a procedural hurdle that required 60 votes to move it forward. The 52-44 vote on March 6th fell short. They did that because they are pushing for amendments that have little to do with roads, bridges and safety, such as one related to the Keystone pipeline.

"It amazes me they keep pushing pipeline legislation," Nelson said on the conference call. "They're kind of the Keystone Kops on Keystone bills. Every time they get involved, it just confuses everything and slows the project down.

"My position remains constant: Nebraskans took the right course on the pipeline. The Legislature acted and the pipeline builder pledged to develop a new route. Congress should not pursue legislation that further impedes Nebraska's efforts to responsibly address environmental and safety issues of the proposed project. It just delays it," said Nelson.

The government's power to spend federal Highway Trust Fund money for construction and safety projects expires at the end of March. If Congress doesn't reauthorize the highway bill, it could pass another short-term extension. That, however, does nothing to help cities and states do the long-term planning they must do when it comes to transportation and the job creation it supports.

In Nebraska, the transportation industry supports about 22,000 jobs, half directly involved in transportation, infrastructure and construction, and half in non-transportation jobs that are sustained by the spending of employees and companies in the transportation and construction industry.

Last year, Nebraska received almost $300 million in federal funding for Nebraska roads, bridges and transit projects. The state stands to receive a similar amount under the highway bill if approved.

"Congress should put aside its political games and pass the highway bill," said Nelson.

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