President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday that would extend transportation funding for an additional three months.
The legislation was a temporary alternative to a long-term $109 billion bill approved by the Senate. House Republicans refused to move on the measure and have adopted the smaller plan as a stop gap in preparation for a larger plan that they will craft once Congress returns from a two-week recess.
While Obama signed the bill, the White House noted that they were not satisfied with the plan, describing it as a “short-term band-aid.”
“States and cities need certainty to plan ahead and America’s construction workers deserve the peace of mind that they won’t have to worry about their jobs every few months,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Thursday.
In the legislative branch’s latest close call, transportation funds were set to expire Saturday without Congressional action, putting thousands of construction jobs at risk and stalling programs across the country.
The bill passed through the House in a 266-158 vote. The Senate passed it Thursday via unanimous consent.
