The House of Representatives approved legislation that would bar federal funds from being used to impose tolls on Interstate-80 across northern Pennsylvania. If the anti–toll provision, part of a transportation appropriations bill, is adopted by the Senate and becomes part of the final measure later this year, it would be a blow to Pennsylvania's plans to increase its own funding for transportation projects. Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell (D) signed a bill July 18 that would boost spending for highway, bridge and transit improvements throughout the state, partly through tolls aimed at out-of-state drivers on I–80.

The House anti–toll language, an amendment offered by Reps. John E. Peterson and Phil English, both Pennsylvania Republicans, was added to a bill funding U.S. Dept. of Transportation programs for fiscal year 2008. The spending measure, which the House passed July 24 by a 268–153 vote, also would increase the federal highway obligation limit by 3%, to $40.2 billion. In additionl, it would hike spending for the Federal Transit by Administration 8% and raise federal airport grants by 2%.

But the Office of Management and Budget warned that President Bush would veto the appropriations bill, terming its spending level "irresponsible and excessive."