Senate debates Klobuchar's transportation bill

by Brett Neely, Minnesota Public Radio

Washington — The U.S. Senate is currently debating a bill sponsored by DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar that's a component of President Barack Obama's jobs plan.

The measure would boost transportation spending by $50 billion and also set aside an additional $10 billion to create a joint public-private infrastructure bank to fund future transport projects. Klobuchar's bill is paid for by a .7 percent surtax on incomes above a $1 million.

Senate Republicans say that tax means they will filibuster the bill on the Senate floor. Klobuchar said she and Senate Democrats are undeterred.

"A number of Republicans have come up to me and said, 'Look, I may not vote for this now but eventually I'm supportive of more infrastructure,' " she said.

A vote on whether to break the filibuster is likely Thursday, but it's expected to fail.