Democrats have succeeded in using their majority status topush a transportation accountability bill to preliminary approval in the House. But it has caused political fallout. Democrats used procedural moves to get the measure to the floor for first-round approval. It would create a Secretary of Transportation, reconfigure the transportation commission, and authorize toll roads. House Speaker Jim Kreider says strong-arm tactics became necessary as Republicans continued their slowdown strategy. But House Republican Leader Catherine Hanaway calls the move extreme partisanship of the worst kind. The Democrats suspended the rules to rush the bill to the floor, and they cut off debate five times to force the bill to a vote.
