The Senate approved a strategy to force a solution to the nation’s Highway Trust Fund pushed by Senator Tom Carper.
The Delaware Democrat’s legislation would ensure that the fund would be secure only through December.
That’s in contrast to a House bill that would keep it going through May.
Carper hopes the earlier deadline will force lawmakers to devise a long-term funding solution during a lame duck session of congress at the end of the year.
On the floor of the Senate yesterday Carper noted that there had been 11 short-term extensions over the last five years.
The Delaware Democrat supports an increase in the federal gas tax to shore up the fund.
