CONGRESS WORKS TO END HIGHWAY BILL IMPASSE

A compromise version of a new federal highway bill was being distributed late Thursday, a possible indication that the impasse in getting a bill through Congress is nearing an end.

"There is apparently a compromise version out there that is different from the House version and different from the Senate version," said Lloyd Smith, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson. "We are just now getting some of the details about it."

Smith said the compromise draft had not been distributed to all members of Congress yet, however, Emerson had gotten a copy as a member of the Public Works and Transportation Committee.

Smith said a copy was sent to Missouri Chief Highway Engineer Wayne Muri to evaluate and determine what its impact would be on Missouri. "It is quite complicated and will take a while for them to evaluate the bill," he noted.

At this point, Smith said he had no idea if a bill would come out of committee this weekend, but said the fact that a compromise draft was being distributed is a positive sign.

Congressional leaders are still hoping to get a new highway bill passed before adjourning for Thanksgiving. Majority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri told the House Thursday afternoon he was optimistic adjournment would come "before dawn Wednesday."

Twenty-six senators and 66 representatives are involved in various phases of the conference, including Missouri Sens. Christopher Bond and John Danforth. Both have urged their colleagues to support the House version, which they feel has a much better formula for states like Missouri.

There are vast differences between the two versions of the bill.

Pete Jeffries, a member of Emerson's Washington staff, said Thursday that the feeling was that Congress would remain in session until several priority bills were completed, including the highway bill. Failure to reach agreement on the bill will likely force Congress to return to work between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Jeffries said apparently some progress is being made in negotiations on the highway bill, although there may still be some major issues to resolve.

A report released Wednesday showed that 106,000 jobs would be lost, including 4,380 in Missouri if Congress failed to approve a new bill by the end of the year.

Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association and District 10 chairman of the Missouri Transportation Development Council, said he had been in touch with the office of Senate Majority Whip Wendell Ford of Kentucky, about the bill.

"There are some serious efforts to get this bill out by Thanksgiving; depending on who you talk to, some are optimistic and some are pessimistic. It's just pretty tenuous now from day to day," said Wildman.

He said much of the conflict over the bill centers around disagreements between rural and urban legislators.

"I feel the rural people are in good shape with the kind of representation we have on the conference committee," said Wildman.

"Our main concern in Missouri is with the formula. Being able to change the formula to provide more money for Missouri is vital to the future of this state."

Wildman pointed out that delays in getting a bill passed will have an impact on bidding projects for next spring. "The Missouri highway department normally lets out bids in the winter months for work in the spring," he said. "That process has been held up.

"Eventually there will be the same number of dollars spent, but there will be a gap in work and some employment will be lost," said Wildman.

Congress plans to remain in session through the weekend.