Senate Approves Metro Funding

The Washington Post ^ | Lena H. Sun

[MinorityRepublican]

The U.S. Senate voted moments ago to authorize long-sought federal funding for Washington's cash-strapped and aging Metro system, clearing a major hurdle toward providing $1.5 billion over 10 years to help maintain the nation's second-largest transit agency.

The Senate passage is the furthest the measure has advanced since Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) began the effort two years ago to secure a reliable source of financial support for Metro.

The bill, part of a major rail safety reform package, was passed by the House last week and now goes to the president for signing. Supporters say a veto is unlikely, partly because of the veto-proof margin of last night's 74 to 24 vote.

[TFine80]

Wanna bet the escalators and elevators still won’t work?

[kempster]

Oh no. Not more Democrats stuck on an escalator for days.

[Major Matt Mason]

1.5 billion? No problem, we'll just print more money. It's worthless, anyway.

[parksstp]

Is McCain done? God, I sure hope not. It seemed this was a lose-lose situation for him. Vote for the bill and draw the ire of many conservatives (and hope the Palin factor would help ease their anger) or vote against the bill and have Wall Street take the country for a ride with another 800 point drop, cause more panic, and allow a President BHO to initiate a new “New Deal”??

I’m also worried by all the 1976/80 enthusiasts who expect another Reagan in four years if BHO wins. My question to them is then why hasn’t this strategy played out at the state level? Where is Reagan in Michigan? People keep saying to look at Michigan for a taste of what’s to come if BHO wins. So under this theory, the liberals would have been tossed from power after MI’s economy tanked. Instead, they’ve won comfortable re-elections.

[beagleone]

I'm with you. McCain was really stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one.

Keep in mind this whole plan is Bush's debacle. Freep gave Bush a leg-up into the WH twice.

Its a little hypocritical to hold McCain to a higher standard than this board held Bush when Obama is an even greater threat to conservative values than Gore or Kerry were.

And President Obama is exactly what we'll get if we reject McCain.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!