Once again, Senate Republicans blocked needed repairs to our country’s infrastructure. Although receiving majority support 51-49, the party of NO used Senate procedures, a filibuster that requires 60 votes, to prohibit the President’s proposal from even being debated and voted upon. Democratic Senator Nelson of Nebraska and Independent Senator Lieberman of Connecticut joined all Republican Senators in upholding the filibuster.

The 60 billion dollar bill would have provided 50 billion dollars for highway, rail, transit and airport improvements and 10 billion dollars as seed money for an infrastructure bank to spur private investment in construction. The funding was to be paid for in its entirety by a 7/10^th of one percent (.7%) surtax on individuals
making more than $1,000,000. Poor infrastructure is estimated to cost American businesses between 150 and 200 billion dollars per year. ...