Baucus, Lautenberg and Menendez Join Kerry in Blocking Bush’s Federal Highway Administration Nominee

Senator Max Baucus has announced that he will block the Senate consideration of President Bush’s nomination of Richard Capka, to head the Federal Highway Administration. Earlier this month John Kerry announced that he was blocking Capka's nomination over his involvement with Boston’s $14.6 billion Big Dig project. Kerry said, “I’m afraid Richard Capka could be the Brownie of highways.”

Baucus says "he is frustrated with the agency’s refusal to fund a $50 million transportation project for Montana."

The money was designated in last year’s transportation bill for Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun road, which is badly in need of repair.

According to Baucus’ office, the agency approved language authorizing the money before the bill was signed into law and now is refusing to distribute the money.

‘‘Max worked way too hard to secure these dollars to let a bunch of bureaucrats get in the way,’’ Baucus spokesman Barrett Kaiser said Wednesday.

Baucus is the now fourth senator to block Richard Capka’s nomination, which means that Capka will need 60 votes for confirmation.

Both of New Jersey’s senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez said Tuesday that they will also block the nomination. They said "the FHA is rescinding approvals made to New Jersey officials allowing them to use a specific method of paying for transportation projects. Under that process, costs are spread out over several years."