Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

The American people will be puzzled by why we can't get out what has traditionally been the most popular bill, the transportation bill. And they will hope that we're not on a road to the 20-plus extensions that we had with the FAA bill. It won't do to say, like two kids: You did it, too; therefore, we can do it.

None of us should have done it.

But in any case, we know we don't have to do it this time because the Senate has passed a bill that we could pass as well. So we know the compromise can happen because they've passed a bill with more than two-thirds of their own house, including many Republicans, signing on.

Compromise is possible if you believe in compromise, and I'm afraid that this bill shows that we have a majority that does not. They are on record saying that they must have 218 votes from their caucus alone. That says to the American people, we need to pass a bill that will have only people from our party voting for it. But, the Senate has passed a bill with both parties compromising. Which is the party that does not believe in compromise? You always have to compromise.

There is not a whole lot of difference in the amount of money in these bills; $52 billion per year for the House, $54 billion per year for the Senate.

The problem is poison pills. The problem is not treating the transportation bill as it has always been treated, as a bipartisan bill. The problem is not caring that you are effecting the recovery if you pass a series of 90-day bills.

We should be speeding the recovery instead of hanging, clinging to a bill that would kill half a million jobs.

It's time to compromise. This side is holding out its hand for a compromise. We need colleagues on the other side to hold out theirs.

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