Houston Metro withstands behind-the-scenes maneuvering on Capitol Hill [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

What the committee chairman described as a “food fight” erupted after midnight as Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold attempted to jimmy legislation to block federal money for Houston Metro to build or extend the University and Uptown lines.

But Farenthold’s courtesy introduction of the restriction for a veteran colleague, Houston’s John Culberson and a longtime Metro critic, ignited a late night flare up that engulfed the 59-member House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

More than anything, the wrangling in the wee hours last week spotlighted the countless little-noticed struggles that take place across Capitol Hill as lawmakers try to steer taxpayers’ dollars toward projects they favor – and away from projects they oppose.

In this case, the stakes were potentially the future of Houston’s light rail system and the unceremonious initiation of Farenthold, a freshman lawmaker with barely 13 months experience on Capitol Hill.

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/02/houston-metro-withstands-behind-the-scenes-maneuvering-on-capitol-hill/

Another Teabagger that we need to get out of Congress now!