WASHINGTON — House Republicans are pitching a six-year transportation construction plan as a major jobs bill that can win bipartisan approval before next year’s election, a key GOP lawmaker said Monday.
Even while prospects for enacting President Barack Obama’s jobs plan have dimmed, Republican backing has grown for a long-term transportation bill to boost employment.
Transportation and road- building industries, especially the beleaguered construction industry, are pressuring lawmakers to make a multiyear commitment of federal funds. Without that, states and private investors will have trouble financing large infrastructure projects.
The most significant obstacle to passing the bill was eliminated when GOP leaders recently agreed to keep spending on highway programs at current levels even though gas-tax revenues are declining, said Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The GOP bill would spend about $285 billion over six years but would spur far greater investment in roads, bridges and transit systems through federal loans and loan guarantees, Mica said.
Still unclear is where Republicans will find the funds to make up as much as a $100 billion shortfall between gas-tax and other transportation-tax revenues and what they are proposing to spend.
Also this week, the House takes up one element of Obama’s jobs proposal that has bipartisan support — deferring a 3 percent tax on companies contracting with the government — but is likely to repeal the levy altogether. The business community has fought the levy ever since it was tucked into a 2005 tax bill. Its enactment has been postponed ever since.
Tribune Co. contributed to this report.
