Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley says the one-man delay by Kentucky Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of congressional action to extend unemployment benefits and a host of other federal spending won't affects state highway projects unless it drags on.
"We'll be OK if this is short-term," Swaim-Staley said after a briefing by federal officials in Washington. She said her understanding is that the bill, which includes transportation spending measures, could pass as early as Tuesday.
The secretary said the delay wouldn't affect curent projects but could block new projects from going out for bid. However, she said, the State Highway Administration has no projects slated to go out for bidding until next week.
Bunning has said he is blocking unanimous consent to move the measure because it does not include offsetting measures to keep it from increasing the federal deficit.