House Speaker John Boehner faces a daunting task getting House committees and the factions of the Republican Party to all work together to get a highway funding bill passed. Photo by  Gage Skidmore  via Wikimedia Commons.

House Speaker John Boehner faces a daunting task getting House committees and the factions of the Republican Party to all work together to get a highway funding bill passed. Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons.

Remember the "fiscal cliff" and what a politico fiasco that was? Well, a major political news and analysis website is predicting that dealing with the highway funding crisis in an election year is going to be just as bad.

In the article "Washington's Next Cliff," Politico.com reporters Jake Sherman and Adam Snider examine the question of what happens when you have a highway funding crisis during an election year.

The Department of Transportation is predicting the fund could run dry by August. Some states are already slowing down or shelving highway projects in anticipation.

"The timing couldn’t be worse," note the Politico.com reporters, "with funding slated to run out just months before voters head to the ballot box to vote in a critical election — providing the electorate with a fresh example of congressional dysfunction."

In fact, they say, the complicated and expensive process of writing highway policy "could rattle the power hierarchies" on The Hill.

"The looming debate illustrates that, regardless of their plan to keep this year drama free, Republicans will not be able to avoid some legislative battles that threaten to expose deep fissures in their party."

Read the full article here.

Related Stories on Truckinginfo.com:

Obama Administration Weighs in With Highway Bill

Bridge Repairs at Risk if Highway Trust Fund Runs into Red

With Funding Clock Ticking, Congress Turns to Highway Bill

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Deborah Lockridge

Deborah Lockridge

Editor and Associate Publisher

Reporting on trucking since 1990, Deborah is known for her award-winning magazine editorials and in-depth features on diverse issues, from the driver shortage to maintenance to rapidly changing technology.

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