This vote was on a motion to send the fiscal 2010 transportation and housing programs spending bill back to the Appropriations Committee to add language that would take back any unspent economic stimulus money for purposes that are duplicated in the underlying bill. This motion, made by Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., was essentially an attempt to prevent Congress from spending additional money in fiscal 2010 if those programs were included in the economic stimulus law.

Kyl said this would save $11 billion.

“What we do is simply send the bill back to committee to report back forthwith, to rescind the money in the stimulus bill that duplicates the Transportation and HUD financing in this bill, except for any funds that have already been obligated, which, obviously, we would go ahead and spend, and, secondly, any money relating to highway construction. That would be totally protected. Beyond that, any duplication in the stimulus bill would be rescinded,” Kyl said.

Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the bill provides critical funding for housing and transportation programs and is important for protecting jobs and creating new jobs.

“The funding in this bill has a direct impact on every community across the Nation. We should not delay this important piece of legislation,” Murray said.

By a vote of 34-64, the motion was rejected.  All but six Republicans present voted for the motion.  Every Democrat present voted against the motion.  The end result was that the measure went forward with its funding intact.