Midday Roundup: Congress approves $305 billion transportation spending bill

Clearing a bottleneck. Both the Senate and House voted last night to approve a transportation bill that allocates $305 billion over five years to upgrade the nation’s aging infrastructure. The bill enjoyed bipartisan support in part because it includes something for everyone: industry favors, parochial projects, safety improvements, and union demands. But the bill’s financing mechanism has generated some criticism. Because lawmakers did not want to raise the 18.4-cents-per-gallon gas tax, they had to find money somewhere else to cover the transportation fund’s shortfall. The bill transfers $70 billion from other federal accounts, including $53 billion from the Federal Reserve Bank's capital account. Under the approved legislation, the federal government will create new programs to focus transportation spending on eliminating bottlenecks and increasing capacity on the nation’s major freight corridors, on which volume is expected to increase 45 percent over the next 30 years.

Germany almost all-in. The German parliament voted last night to join the fight against ISIS. Responding in part to an appeal from France, its strongest NATO ally, Germany will send ships and planes to the Middle East to support efforts by the U.S.-led coalition. But it will not participate directly in bombing runs targeting the terror group. “The Paris attacks have forced us in Europe to realize that the Middle East is not somewhere distant like South America,” said Norbert Röttgen, the head of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee. “It is our neighbor, and we Europeans must take responsibility for this region.” German lawmakers also committed 1,200 troops to the coalition.

Turkey trash talk. Russian President Vladimir Putin is promising revenge after Turkey last week shot down a Russian bomber that strayed into its airspace. “And let those in Turkey who shot our pilots in the back know that those who try to justify themselves and their actions and color terrorists’ crimes are hypocrites,” Putin said, despite repeated warnings from U.S. President Barack Obama to deescalate tensions between the two countries. The United States has supported Turkey’s right to defend its airspace. But rather than trying to calm the situation, Putin is fueling the fire. In his annual speech before Parliament yesterday, he hurled insults at Turkey’s leadership, going so far as to accuse them of financing ISIS through the purchase of oil. Black market oil is one of the top sources of ISIS funding. Turkey quickly denied the claims. Putin has also slapped Turkey with sanctions, banning the import of Turkish produce and other foods. He said trade sanctions are just the beginning.

Disappointed stargazers. The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned approval for construction of a massive telescope on a dormant volcano on the Big Island. The state initially issued a permit for the 180-foot-tall, $1.4 billion observatory over objections from environmentalists and native Hawaiian activists. The Mauna Kea volcano is considered one of the best spots in the world for stargazing because of its altitude and distance from any interfering ground lights. The high court ruled the construction permit approval process did not comply with case law, statutes, or the state constitution, violating the protections of native Hawaiian customs and traditions. The company behind the project, a joint effort among China, India, Canada, Japan, and the United States, said it will continue to advocate for the project, adhering to whatever standards the court sets out.

WORLD Radio’s Christina Darnell and the Associated Press contributed to this report.