President Obama signed a three-month highway bill Friday while chastising Congress for failing to approve long-term transportation funding and other legislative business before lawmakers’ summer vacation.
“We can’t keep on funding transportation by the seat of our pants,” Mr. Obama told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s a bad way for the U.S. government to do business. I guarantee you that’s not how China, Germany and other countries around the world handle their infrastructure.”
The $8.1 billion measure approved by the Senate on Thursday will extend infrastructure spending until Oct. 29. The Senate also has approved a six-year highway bill, but House Republican leaders refused to address the measure before the House adjourned Wednesday night.
The House will return after Labor Day to resume work.
The president also called on lawmakers to reauthorize the Export-Import bank and approve a spending plan for fiscal 2016 without budget caps. He said the administration “will not accept accept sequester-level budgets.”
Mr. Obama also said the Export-Import bank “creates tens of thousands of jobs across the country.”
Congress needs “intra-party negotiations as well as negotiations between the parties,” he said.
“We should not be leaving all the business of the U.S. government until the last minute,” Mr. Obama said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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