A broad coalition of business, labor, and transportation groups is now in place to help promote Senator Jim Talent’s Build America Bonds initiative to raise $50-Billion for transportation initiatives. The Build America Bonds initiative is getting the backing of such groups as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Teamsters, Bricklayers, and Carpenters Unions. Senator Talent is hoping his proposal becomes an amendment attached to the Transportation Bill. The bonding initiative would generate funding without a tax increase. States would be required to come up with some matching dollars for the money they would receive. But Missouri and a number of other states might get a bit of a break. Talent expects the Transportation Bill to be voted on earlyin the new year.
