Democrats warn of job losses if highway bill dies
WASHINGTON -- More than 13,000 jobs would be at risk in Nevada if Congress fails to extend a highway and mass transit law before it expires on Sept. 30, according to figures released Thursday by Senate Democrats.
Arming for a possible fight when lawmakers return to work next week, committee leaders Barbara Boxer of California and Tim Johnson of South Dakota said 1.8 million jobs will be threatened nationwide unless the transportation bill is extended.
Boxer plans to advance a four-month extension that would keep the federal funding pipeline open through January while members of her Environment and Public Works Committee complete a comprehensive two-year bill that would continue spending at current levels.
Johnson is chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which handles public transportation.
In the House, Republican leaders have indicated they would support a short-term extension, but Rep. John Mica of Florida, chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said it would be the last temporary fix he would accept.
The parties seem certain to clash over how to allocate shrinking balances in the highway trust fund, which finances road work. Mica has proposed long-term legislation that is less costly and ambitious than the one envisioned by Democrats in the Senate.
Boxer and Johnson sent a letter to all senators with a chart of job loss estimates by the Department of Transportation. Nevada could face a cut of 13,642 direct and indirect jobs, according to the department.
Scott Rawlins, deputy director and chief engineer of the Nevada Department of Transportation, said this week that officials have not yet looked at possible effects if federal funds are cut off for any length of time.
Rawlins said the effect could be tempered by a state law that allows Nevada to increase its gasoline tax rate if the federal gasoline tax expires.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
