James M. Jeffords: “Do we not have other problems, in the sense of trying to move freight across the country and making the highways safe?…”

“Do we not have other problems, in the sense of trying to move freight across the country and making the highways safe? We took the intermodal transportation systems we had, and a lot of that takes funds we would normally use, is that not true? Mr. Reid, yes. That is why it was called intermodal transportation system--ISTEA. The reason, as I said before, is we learned a few bills ago that just simply pouring more asphalt is not the way to solve all the problems in this country. What this bill takes into consideration is ways to more efficiently move people and products across our country. We have done the best we can on this. Again, I don't see how this, in any form or fashion, can be pork. This is different than our regular appropriations bills. I think people are overly critical of those, but this is not even in the same category.”