Washington D.C. - Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar and Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey have worked out a national compromise on highway funding that will have a big impact at home. Legislation introduced Monday night saves nearly five thousand construction jobs in Minnesota and Wisconsin and keeps over $100 million dollars in federal highway aid from being cut.

Last year the Republican led 109th Congress failed to pass a budget for 2007. Since the beginning of the year the government has operated under a temporary continuing resolution that funds agencies at 2006 levels, with no adjustments for inflation. Last night a bill was introduced to extend that resolution to keep the government operating for the remainder of 2007.

Oberstar is Chairman of the Transportation Committee and Obey is Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Both Congressmen wanted to make sure the new continuing resolution had full funding for the nation's highway construction programs.

The original Republican plan would have cut $3.5 billion in federal highway aid to the states nationwide. In Minnesota, that would have meant a cut of almost $50 million and a loss of 2,370 construction jobs. Wisconsin would have lost $52 million and 2,500 jobs.

"This has bipartisan support," said Oberstar. "I've never seen a Democratic road or a Republican bridge. This funding should not be held up because the leadership in the last Congress couldn't get its work done."

"While we can't fix all of the fiscal chaos the Republican leadership of the last Congress left behind," said Obey, "I'm glad we were able strengthen funding for priorities like transportation, education, and healthcare in this bill that's intended to bring last year's issues to a conclusion so we can turn the page and deal with next year's needs."

Oberstar says Minnesota and Wisconsin are already benefiting from the fact that he and Obey hold the chairmanships of full committees.

"It gives our region a great deal of clout. Dave's district is just across Lake Superior from Minnesota's 8th District; you could say that we are connected by a Great Lake and a commitment to public service."

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