It is Oberstar's big week

U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar at Minnesota Capitol earlier this year

This is an important week for U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar and his hopes for a new transportation funding bill.

Washington media report today that Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat and House transportation chairman, hopes the House this week approves $3 billion as a stop-gap measure until a six-year transportation bill can be passed in the fall.

Oberstar insists that a $500 billion transportation overhaul measure is vital, while the Obama administration and some key senators prefer to extend current policies and funding levels for 18 months. The chairman opted for the $3 billion temporary funding bill as a way to buy time for him to sell his long-term solution, the newspaper Roll Call reports.

The House recesses for a summer break this week, while the Senate probably will stick around next week. But with current transportation funding ending in September, there is pressure for Congress to pass something before heading home. If the House passes the short-term Oberstar measure, senators may feel they have no choice but to go along.

Roll Call reported: "Oberstar’s bill, which would tilt federal transportation policy toward sustainability and 'intermodal' transport, is the culmination of an impressive career that has seen the 74-year-old rise from the top staffer slot on the former House Public Works Committee to chairman of its current incarnation, the Transportation and Infrastructure panel. With more than four decades of experience under his belt, Oberstar is acclaimed for his policy expertise. ..."

"But relations between the White House and the 18-term congressman have soured in recent months. Oberstar was furious earlier this year after White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said a proposal to tax vehicle miles traveled was a nonstarter. The tension was exacerbated by the administration’s call earlier this summer for the 18-month extension."

Posted by: Don Davis on 7/27/2009 at 11:34 AM | Permalink

Tags: congress, oberstar, transportation