Reid Tries to Kick Consideration of Highway Bill into Gear

By Niels Lesniewski, CQ Staff

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is taking steps to expedite consideration of a surface transportation bill once a standoff over non-germane amendments is finally resolved.

The Nevada Democrat used his prerogative as majority leader to propose a new substitute amendment for the two-year, $109 billion highway measure (S 1813). Reid says the amendment incorporates the text of 37 other amendments that negotiators, led by Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and ranking Republican James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, have agreed to behind the scenes.

“I am thinking seriously of coming to the floor today and asking consent that we move forward on this bill with no irrelevant or non-germane amendments,” Reid said. “It’s vital that we complete work on this surface transportation bill. I’m determined that the Senate will do so, and do so as quickly as possible.”

Putting all of the language with bipartisan support into a single amendment would reduce the number of votes that could be required to complete action on the bill if either a disagreement about extraneous proposals is resolved or Reid opts to file cloture to attempt to limit debate.

The new provisions generally should be supported by lawmakers on both sides. For instance, Reid’s amendment includes new language that would help military personnel and veterans obtain commercial driver’s licenses. Another provision would direct the Transportation secretary to exempt historically significant road signs from the Uniform Traffic Control Device rule, which has faced bipartisan opposition from stakeholders and on Capitol Hill over its minimum reflectivity standards.

Senators in both parties expressed optimism about work on relevant transportation-related amendments, but were less hopeful about other amendments.

New York Democrat Charles E. Schumer, the No. 3 Democratic leader in the Senate, told reporters Thursday afternoon that he suspected Reid may file cloture because of the number of GOP amendments.

“Germane amendments are just fine, but as Leader Reid mentioned, they have filed scores of non-germane amendments, and if Sen. McConnell insists that we have to vote on every one of those, we’re not going to get a highway bill,” Schumer said, referring to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,

Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican who has filed amendments about federal spending, indicated that leadership was continuing to work through those issues.

Democrats had hoped that holding a vote on a contentious amendment from Missouri Republican Roy Blunt related to mandatory health insurance coverage of contraception would pave the way to start work on the highway bill proper. But for the moment, that does not appear to be enough.

Reid said Republicans continue to seek votes on amendments regarding EPA rules for industrial and commercial boiler emissions, known as Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standards, and the approval of the entire length of the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would stretch from Canada to Texas.

Finance Ranking Republican Orrin G. Hatch said negotiators also continue to work on the final revenue-raising language to fill the gap between tax receipts for the Highway Trust Fund and the amount of money needed to fully offset spending in the bill. The Utah Republican expressed optimism that issue would be resolved.

Emily Holden contributed to this story.