"House Transportation Chair John Mica introduced Americans to the GOP vision for transportation on Tuesday -- more highways and more toll roads. To pay for it all, there would more offshore drilling. Democrats and environmentalists, predictably, weren't impressed."

"The five-year, $260 billion American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act would rewrite the nation's transportation legislation, set to expire on March 31. The bill would expand the interstate highway system by building more toll roads.

'This bill will put Americans back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and developing new sources of low-cost energy,' Mica said in a statement released by his committee. 'This legislation may be the most important jobs measure to pass Congress this year.'

Environmentalists, meanwhile, were skeptical it could get through the Senate. Anna Gowan of the anti-drilling group Oceana called the idea a 'non-starter.'"

Matt Sledge reports for Huffington Post January 31, 2012. [2]