Transportation May Furlough 2000 Over Bunning's 'Hold'

Senator Jim Bunning's showboating blockade of a 30-day extension of unemployment and health insurance benefits is sure to be overridden this week, but it may have another effect because he also stopped an extension of the Highway Trust Fund:

So, the Department of Transportation as of Monday morning, must furlough 2,000 federal workers. DOT says that number could climb if this stalemate over funding drags on. Employees affected include federal inspectors overseeing highway projects on federal lands. If the inspectors aren't there, the projects must shut down.  DOT says that will affect 41 critical construction projects from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"As American families are struggling in tough economic times, I am keenly disappointed that political games are putting a stop to important construction projects around the country," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This means that construction workers will be sent home from job sites because federal inspectors must be furloughed." ...

rest at http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/1/841792/-Transportation-May-Furlough-2000-Over-Bunnings-Hold?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29