7 months ago
The Democratic-dominated House has approved a $123- billion transportation and housing bill that includes additional money for the president's high-speed rail initiative.
The bill, approved 256-168, includes generous funding for housing subsidies for the poor and $4 billion more for President Barack Obama's rail plan.
He had only requested an additional $1 billion for the initiative, which was launched in February with an $8 billion infusion from the economic stimulus bill.
Massachusetts Democrat John Olver, the main author of the bill, says the earlier $8 billion appropriation has generated a "huge demand" of more than $100 billion for projects in more than 40 states.
Iowa Republican Tom Latham warns that the program could easily spiral out of control.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
