WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While a multi-year highway funding bill took another step forward in the Senate on Monday, House Republicans leaders have announced plans to vote on just a three-month extension on Wednesday.
The Senate vote 62 to 32 to limit debate on the multi-year highway bill negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
Forty Republicans, twenty Democrats and the Senate's two Independents voted to advance the legislation, which includes an amendment to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
However, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., declared the Senate bill will not receive a vote in the lower chamber.
McCarthy argued House members do not have time to review the 1,000-plus-page proposal before a Friday deadline to provide funding.
The House Majority Leader instead urged the Senate to pass the five-month extension approved by the House earlier this month.
Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner told reporters on Tuesday the House would vote on a separate short-term extension to provide highway funding for three months.
Boehner indicated the House will vote on the three-month extension on Wednesday and then recess for the summer, forcing the Senate to pass the short-term bill or risk a lapse in funding.
'The House wants to produce a long-term highway bill,' Boehner said. 'We've got work to do and we need to buy some time in order to get that work done.'
House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan has reportedly been working on a six-year highway bill that offsets the cost with tax code reforms.
The Senate bill would reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund for six years, although it only provides three years of funding.
Neither of the short-term House proposals includes a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which supporters argue helps facilitate exports of U.S. goods and services but critics deride as a form of corporate welfare.
The White House favors a multi-year bill but has expressed support for a short-term extension, pointing to the looming deadline on July 31st.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX