Feb. 1, 2004, 8:24PM
GOP split stalls highway projects
Fiscal conservatives blast spending
By DAN MORGAN
Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Legislation authorizing $375 billion in new highway construction in hundreds of communities has become unexpectedly bogged down in Congress by differences between GOP fiscal conservatives and Republicans willing to spend more to create jobs.
House Republicans abruptly delayed long-planned action on a six-year version of the bill that had been scheduled for floor action the second week of February.
In the Senate, conservative members called on Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to postpone debate set for today on a smaller, $318 billion package.
Their letter called the measure "potentially the biggest budget-busting spending bill the Senate will consider this entire year," and said it would be "irresponsible" to vote on it until its impact on the deficit is known.
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2382599