Reid, Heller tout jobs in highway bill

Both Nevada senators, Democrat Harry Reid and Republican Dean Heller, praised the passage of a new highway funding bill by the Senate.

And both urged the House to join in passing the measure to President Barack Obama's desk.

"This bill is an example of what can be accomplished when both parties work together," said Heller.

He said the measure provides "the certainty needed to invest in our state's critical transportation projects."

Reid, the Senate majority leader, described the legislation as a jobs bill "that will provide much-needed improvements to our nation's crumbling transportation infrastructure, while creating jobs and keeping our economy moving forward."

Nevada Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich said the bill, which provides $109 billion in highway funding to the states over the next two years, is the state's primary source of funding for constructing and maintaining roads.

"But it's not just about maintaining and constructing roads," she said. "It's about jobs."

NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder said Nevada has received well over $250 million in federal funding annually for the past several years. In 2010, the total was $316 million. The money comes from the federal and state gasoline and diesel taxes.