McCarthy says House won't take up Senate's highway bill

It’s the last days before the monthlong August recess. Washington is readying to shut down for the summer. That means one thing: the House and Senate are at loggerheads over funding a critical government program.

House and Senate leaders seem to be at an impasse over funding highway and transit programs, just days before Congress leaves town for the summer — and spending authorization for infrastructure runs dry.


The problem deepened Wednesday, when House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that the Senate’s six-year highway bill will not get consideration in the House.

McCarthy (R-Calif.), speaking to reporters outside the Republican National Committee headquarters, said “I don’t see the Senate” bill “flying in the House.”

“This idea of a Senate bill coming together in a last minute that’s not long term, that’s not paid for, I think brings real doubt to a lot of people,” McCarthy said. The topic was discussed at a closed GOP meeting Wednesday in the Capitol Hill Club.

The Senate introduced its six-year highway bill Tuesday, but it failed to advance on procedural grounds just hours after it was released. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) might hold another vote Wednesday.

The House recesses for August next week, but the Senate has two more weeks in session.

The House, meanwhile, passed a short-term measure that would reauthorize the highway program until the end of 2015. McCarthy suggested the House and Senate open up formal negotiations to resolve the impasse.