The administration officials said that the president wants a bill, but reiterated the White House's position that the final number the president could support was $283.9 billion. Secretary Mineta pointed out how far the administration has come from its original position of $247 billion. Card stressed that the administration has come a long way, but they would not be going any farther than $283.9 billion. He also claimed that the House was with them on this number. Card contended not one of the 16 senate Democratic conferees would currently agree to sign a conference report at this funding level, making it impossible to move a bill since a majority of conferees of both chambers must sign to approve a conference report. Card admitted Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) had not agreed to a lower number. He urged the groups present to help the president get the bill done.

During remarks to 5,500 people attending the 2005 President's Dinner on June 14, President Bush highlighted the importance of the highway bill, but also couched it in terms of fiscal restraint, saying, "We need to have a fiscally responsible highway bill that modernizes our roads and bridges, and improves safety and creates jobs," noting that he believes it begins the process of reducing the current deficit spending of the Federal Government.

Earlier on June 14, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), the conference committee chairman, proposed a compromise funding level on behalf of his House colleagues to the group of senators negotiating this aspect of the bill. The Senate rejected the number put forward by Young. The Senate conferees dealing with the bill's funding level are scheduled to meet among themselves the morning of June 16, to develop a counteroffer that they will present Young and their House counterparts later in the day. Young said that if he and his fellow House negotiators do not find that proposal acceptable, he will continue writing the bill at the $284 billion level and his House colleagues will vote in support of that number in conference.

House Subcommittee Approves FY '06 Transportation Spending Bill

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, HUD, the Judiciary and D.C. approved an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2006 that sets federal-aid highway spending at the $37 billion level contained in the highway reauthorization bill (H.R. 3). This is an increase of $1.6 billion over the president's request and $1.9 billion over the FY '05 enacted level, excluding emergency supplementals.

NSSGA members are urged to contact their members of Congress and press for final action on a multi-year reauthorization bill at the highest funding level possible. You can visit the NSSGA Legislative Action Center for draft correspondence that you can electronically send to your members or call our toll-free Washington Action Hotline at (800) 450-8293 to be connected to their offices on Capitol Hill. We cannot let up the drumbeat. Congress needs to act and act now!