Congress gears up for transportation battle; Boxer opposes offshore drilling

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U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Things are moving fast on Capitol Hill as the House and Senate gear up for debate over transportation bills. But there could be a train wreck ahead for the two measures.

The two-year Senate bill has bipartisan support. The House version is likely to be a five- or six-year bill that spends about $2 billion less per year. The problem is that gas taxes have been frozen for nearly two decades and they’re not enough to fund either bill fully.

The head of the House Transportation Committee, Republican John Mica of Florida, says the missing revenue will come from “increased American energy production.” California Democrat Barbara Boxer, who heads the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says there are tens of millions of acres already approved for drilling — but if that means drilling off the California coast, forget it.

She says that threatens the state's fishing industry, the tourist industry, the recreation industry and millions of jobs. "That’s very controversial," Boxer said. "I mean, I’ve said that many times to Chairman Mica. Stay away from controversy."

Boxer says the Senate bill is a true compromise. "Are there things that I wanted in there? Yes. Have I gotten criticized by some in my own base who said, ‘Why don’t you do more on the environment?’ Because I don’t want to put controversy in this bill."

The House and Senate bills contain the transportation loans L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been lobbying for the past two years. The current transportation bill expires in March.