GOP divided over transportation issues

According to a report on Bloomberg.com, the site of one of the worst bridge disasters in U.S. history (in photo at left) served as a backdrop for House Republicans seeking more money for highways and infrastructure, a position that runs contrary to that of President Bush and presidential nominee John McCain. The lawmakers, detouring from their national convention in St. Paul, Minn., stood on the newly constructed Interstate 35W bridge across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and talked about the need to maintain roads and bridges. "There are some things the government has to do," said Representative John Mica of Florida, the top Republican on the House Transportation Committee. That view isn't shared by the party's leaders. Bush has threatened to veto legislation that would use general tax revenue for highways, saying it would increase the deficit. McCain proposed a temporary elimination of the fuel tax, which would cause an even bigger shortfall in money for highways. McCain's challenge is how to continue his opposition to the federal funding of local projects known as earmarks while still trying to make a case that he supports road and bridge construction. According to NSSGA, which tracks the voting records of elected officials on transportation issues, McCain has voted to support such issues just 25.7 percent of the time. Barack Obama, by contrast, has voted to support transportation issues 65 percent of the time. Your comment?