Late Thursday the Senate avoided a Friday shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration by passing a "clean" bill to extend the agency's operations through Jan. 31, 2012. The same bill extends highway spending through March 31, 2012, and quells fears of partisan fires reigniting in Washington.
Senators voted 92-6 to approve the measure that passed the House on Tuesday.
The bill moved forward after Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) worked out an agreement in which Coburn's objections to "enhancement" projects added on to road-construction appropriations (projects such as bike paths, walking trails, museums and others) will be addressed when the Senate considers a permanent long-term highway reauthorization.
