Local 8 Now - This Morning - Headlines

Congress poised to act on highways, student loans

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, joined by other House GOP leaders, meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, following a political strategy session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, joined by other House GOP leaders, meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, following a political strategy session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House and Senate are poised to vote on a legislative package that would overhaul highway and transit programs, create 3 million jobs and spare millions of students from higher interest rates on college loans.

The bill would also financially shore up the federal flood insurance program.

Votes are expected in both chambers on Friday.

The burst of legislating comes just four months before the November elections, giving lawmakers achievements to show off to voters.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat who led Senate negotiations on the transportation portion of the package, said the bill will save 1.8 million jobs by keeping transportation aid flowing to states and create another 1 million jobs by using loan guarantees to leverage private investment in infrastructure projects.


Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
powered by Disqus

WVLT VOLUNTEER TV

6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919 (865) 450-8888 - Phone (865) 450-8869 - Fax
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013 - Designed by Gray Digital Media - Powered by Clickability
User Agent: CCBot/2.0 - 160805065