From the Aberdeen American News:
Thune: S.D. to get record-level funding
Senator visits Aberdeen, discusses highway bill
A record level of funding coming to South Dakota in the new highway bill will bring more money to the state than the congressional delegation could have expected before work on the legislation was finished, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday in Aberdeen.
Why did it take so long to get a highway bill? Because of Senate/Daschle obstruction:
More Daschle Blame Game
This time on the federal highway bill:
"Now it's up to the Senate," [Congressman] Young said. "It's being held up by Tom Daschle. I don't think he can withstand that pressure over a long period of time because this is important to the nation."
Daschle, D-S.D., is the Senate's minority party leader. His spokeswoman, Sarah Feinberg, said Daschle is not holding up the bill and wants to see it passed. The main problem, she said, is that the Republican leaders and the White House can't agree on the right funding level.
"This is a Republican problem right now," she said.
More:
But Young said he is mystified by the opposition he perceives from Daschle.
"I've worked closely with my Democratic friends. This is a nonpartisan bill, and I don't understand it," Young said.
Young said the Senate can't appoint conferees unless Daschle agrees to a motion to do so. So far, Democrats have objected to such motions, raising the specter of a time-consuming filibuster on the floor.
Young noted that the Senate could shut down the filibuster. But that takes 60 votes to pass a "cloture" motion, a difficult hurdle with the Senate parties split 51-49.
Young said he thinks the 60 votes could be found, though.
"I think what will happen if we ever have a cloture vote again, you'll see some of the senators peeling off and (Daschle) won't be able to filibuster," Young said.
Daschle's spokeswoman, Feinberg, said her boss continued negotiations on the highway bill with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday.
It's good to have a Senator who is getting things done instead of blocking everything.
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