Senate Defies Bush, Approves Highway Bill

AP ^ | 5/17/2005 | JIM ABRAMS,

[katieanna]

WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled Senate brushed aside a presidential veto threat Tuesday and passed a $295 billion highway bill, arguing that massive spending on bigger and better roads was necessary to fight congestion and unsafe roadways.

[mattdono]

Good. Maybe President Bush will finally use the veto.

[Blzbba]

"Maybe President Bush will finally use the veto."


Not holding my breath. The man LOVES increased gov't spending.

(I hope he does, though)

[ctlpdad]

Those of us in the heavy/highway construction industry are cheering. I think this and defense are about the only ways our government should be spending money.

[Dead Corpse]

I forget, which party was the "smaller, more fiscally responsible" party again? I wonder if Bush has finally found that Veto stamp that Rove hid from him.

[Bommer]

Doesn't possess the testicles for it and expect his base to go for the nuke option.

[rhombus]

Those of us in the heavy/highway construction industry are cheering. I think this and defense are about the only ways our government should be spending money

I've been watching construction crews working on a bridge in Massachusetts for over 10 years - now that's what I call a quagmire!

[misterrob]

See Big Dig in Massachusetts.....

[golfboy]

"Those of us in the heavy/highway construction industry are cheering. I think this and defense are about the only ways our government should be spending money."


That may be, but all the pork and additional spending should be stripped out of the bill.

[lnbchip]

"Good. Maybe President Bush will finally use the veto."

Don't hold your breath - The veto is not known to Bush. In all truth, I can't remember a single time that he has used the veto since he has been President. I would appreciate any of you offering up any examples of when he has, in fact, used his veto power.

[La Enchiladita]

In addition to granting money to states to repair and build roads and bridges, the bill provides more than $50 billion for public transit, funds recreational road programs and promotes highway safety.

I think we are worth it after just giving $82 billion more to Iraq. President Bush seems to favor the welfare of other countries over ours. Fine, let's see if he vetoes it. Maybe Amtrak will finally tank. Too bad, I love train travel.

[IrishGOP]

It has to be reconciled with the House version, which I believe is more in line with the President's wishes. Not over yet.

[ctlpdad]

See it, did it. Spent a bunch of my life working on it, and damn proud of it! Bechtel/Parsons Brinkerhoff/QAQuade/Douglas are the idiots to blame, as are the foolish ignorant media.

[Cagey]

Those of us in the heavy/highway construction industry are cheering.

Those of us in the tax paying industry are crying.

50 billion of the 295 billion is "going for public transit, fund recreational road programs and promote highway safety." Okay, what exactly are recreational road programs?

[ctlpdad]

Waht town, and what road?

[dead]

Good. Maybe President Bush will finally use the veto.

Expecting Bush to restrain the big spending tendencies of congress is like expecting some of Paris Hilton’s wisdom to rub off on Nichole Ritchie.

[cotton1706]

I see it every day, thanks. I've seen enough.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Sorry, I don't consider millions of dollars for bike trails to be a priority. He should stick with his threat and veto the bill, while highlighting all the pork projects.

[ctlpdad]

I agree the pork and tack-ons really suck. Has any bill been passed in the last 5 score without it?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Okay, what exactly are recreational road programs?

Bike trails.