Washington - This evening, Republican obstruction on the Senate floor cost the U.S. transportation system $8.7 billion in funding, which could force an estimated 17,000 workers out of jobs. The Senate was in the process of temporarily extending transportation funding, which would have included a fix to a rescission of $8.7 billion in highway contract authority. Even though the fix was backed by the bipartisan leadership of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the bipartisan leadership of the Senate, a group of Republican senators objected, blocking the fix.
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development, decried the obstruction, which will cost the New Jersey Department of Transportation $230 million until a fix is passed:
"This partisan roadblock is an anti-stimulus for our economy. Delaying this federal investment will affect transportation projects that have the potential to create and sustain jobs, improve the transportation system and save families time and money. Now more than ever, it is irresponsible to deny our communities of these economic benefits. This group of Republicans needs to lift its roadblock immediately and help America get back to work."
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