Biden: Bypass legislatures to direct road grants to cities
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden says the federal government should find more ways to bypass state legislatures to direct transportation grants to cities and towns.
Biden drew applause during his speech to the National League of Cities in Nashville for observing that federal money flowing through state capitols tends to get diverted toward the interests of governors and individual lawmakers.
Biden criticized a transportation bill approved by the U.S. House Thursday for not including more grant money for cities.
The vice president said he discussed the issue with the city’s new mayor, Megan Barry, who met him at the Nashville airport.
Barry’s predecessor, Karl Dean, was thwarted in his attempts to create a 7-mile bus route. Opponents included businesses and residents along parts of the route and Republican state lawmakers.
