WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- With a White House veto threat looming, the U.S. Senate Thursday approved a $318 billion highway construction bill.
The reauthorization of the existing transportation infrastructure legislation is $62 billion more than the White House request, loaded with spending budget hawks consider to be excessive even for the traditionally pork-laden bill.
While the White House has threatened to veto the bill over the spending, it received a veto-proof level of support on passage from both Republicans and Democrats promoting the measure as a job creation bill.
Given the six-year bill provides funding for state and federal road building around the nation, the Senate GOP leadership is keen to put aside concerns about the massive federal budget deficit and some legislators are extremely eager to have the spending reach their home districts and states before the November elections.
However, the future of the Senate bill is uncertain as there is less cohesion in the House over how much should be spent with GOP leaders delaying action on their version of the bill until an agreement can be met.
