Voinovich Continues Quest
BNA
Feb. 25, 2010
"Amid the debates on jobs legislation and short-term policy extensions, Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) again pleaded for White House leadership on the issue of a multiyear highway and transit bill at a Feb. 25 panel discussion on transportation policy held by the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Although he provided a crucial vote to move the jobs bill forward in the Senate after winning a promise from Reid to bring up a multiyear authorization this year, Voinovich said future jobs measures will not necessarily have his support. 'I'm taking each of these pieces of legislation and looking at them individually,' he said, noting that he might vote against any future jobs bill until the White House puts forth its policy proposal.
"Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told the Senate Budget Committee Feb. 24 that the administration would release 'some very good principles for all of you to look at very soon after the extension.'
"LaHood's use of the word 'principles' seems to back up the thoughts of many transportation stakeholders who believe that any administration proposals are likely to be broad-based and offer few specifics, instead promoting administration causes like high-speed rail and livable communities while leaving the details to Congress, as has been the case with other Obama initiatives.
"The Obama administration wants to put off debate on the massive and expensive policy rewrite until early 2011 and has said it does not support raising the motor fuel tax before that time. Voinovich has been calling for a gas tax increase as far back as 2002 and has been visibly frustrated by the Obama administration's reluctance to discuss funding proposals in any detail."
