The spending measure passed the Senate 87-13. Once signed by President Barack Obama, it will cut $6 billion in spending for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Nine conservative Republican senators opposed the resolution because it didn't cut spending enough, while three Democrats and one independent voted "no" because it cut too much.

Congress enacted the Obama administration's Fiscal Year 2011 budget request to eliminate the $50 million FRA program that provides grants to rail operators to pay for positive train control technology.

In the previous two-week continuing resolution that expires today, Congress cut $4 billion in spending, about a quarter of which came from the U.S. Department of Transportation: $650 million from the federal highway program, $293 million from surface transportation earmarks, and $24 million from the FRA's Rail Line Relocation and Improvement program. (see March 4 AASHTO Journal story)

Work on Appropriations for Rest of Fiscal Year Remains in Progress

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Thursday that negotiations are underway with the House and the administration on a spending measure to finish out the fiscal year, Roll Call reported. Staff members for Reid; House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio; and the White House met Wednesday night to discuss a long-term continuing resolution to close out FY 2011.

Reid said he was encouraged that Boehner needed Democratic votes to pass the short-term bill in the House on Tuesday. The measure passed 271-158 with 54 Republicans voting "no."

"This week's House vote on that proposal was encouraging because it showed that Republicans need Democratic votes to move forward and that both sides are willing to compromise," Reid said.

The measure approved this week, House Joint Resolution 48, is the sixth short-term spending resolution for the current fiscal year.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, warned this is the last continuing resolution he would support. He stressed that temporary spending bills are not good governance.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said the latest short-term measure gives Congress "some breathing room" to work on a longer-term measure.

"But the President has been clear: with the wide range of issues facing our nation, we cannot keep funding the government in two or three week increments," Carney said. "It is time for us to come together, find common ground, and resolve this issue in a sensible way."