Rep. Keith Ellison Calls for Long-Term Transportation Plan

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) today voted against the short-term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (H.R. 4281).

"Once again House leaders have put their ideology over the job security of thousands of Americans. This bill is an example of the bad policy Republican leaders have repeatedly brought before this House. We're at the time of year when companies are leasing road work equipment and hiring construction workers. This short-term bill won't help state and local governments plan much-need road work projects that could improve our infrastructure and create jobs.

"The Senate approved a bill that would extend this funding for two entire years but the House Republicans refused to take it up. It's ironic that the GOP continuously argues that "uncertainty' harms "job-creators' but in this case it appears that ensuring the certainty of good paying, middle-class jobs doesn't interest them."

Source