This was a vote on House passage of the bill providing fiscal year 2010 funding bill for the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Transportation. The bill included $123 billion in spending - - $47 billion for HUD programs and $76 billion for transportation infrastructure and support. Rep. Olver (D-MA), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee subcommittee that developed HR. 3288, said that the bill “has emphasized investments in five key areas: One, building healthy communities with environmentally sustainable solutions; two, maintaining services in rural communities; three, supporting vulnerable populations; four, investing in the national infrastructure; and, five, ensuring transportation safety.” He also said that the level of HUD funding “recognizes that foreclosure rates remain high and the current (poor) economic climate and weak job market have increased demand for affordable housing.”

Rep. Latham (R-IA), the Ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee subcommittee that developed H.R. 3288, opposed passage of the bill in its current form. Latham noted that his opposition was based on the fact that its total spending was “25 percent over the fiscal year 2009 level.”

He also opposed the passage of H.R. 3288 because he claimed that the procedures for debating the bill imposed by the Democrats limited the number of amendments that could be offered to reduce the spending levels. Latham argued that this limitation prevented “a serious debate . . . to allow our constituents to have some say in how those funds are spent.” Latham gave as an example an amendment he had proposed, but which was not made in order, to transfer funds from rapid rail development to the highway construction fund, which he claimed was going to run out of money.

The legislation passed by a vote of 256-168. Two hundred and forty Democrats and sixteen Republicans voted “aye”. One hundred and fifty-eight Republicans and ten Democrats voted “nay”. As a result, the House approved and sent on to the Senate the bill providing fiscal year 2010 funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Transportation.