Voinovich bill oddly coincidental

In an eerie coincidence, a bill from Sen. George Voinovich to address the nation's deteriorating infrastructure - including bridges - passed a key Senate committee earlier this week - just one day before the deadly Interstate 35W bridge disaster in Minneapolis.


"Our infrastructure is collapsing due to insufficient funding," the Cleveland Republican said in a news release Tuesday - just 27 hours before the horrific bridge collapse.


The bill, co-sponsored by Minnesota Democratic Sen. Norm Coleman, along with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., would create a National Commission on Infrastructure to study the condition of America's roads, bridges, drinking water systems, dams and other pubic works.


A report on the nation's infrastructure needs would be due to Congress in February 2010.


Voinovich's measure, which was first introduced last March, was prompted by devastation caused by the levy failures in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.


But it became all the more relevant after the Minneapolis bridge tragedy on Wednesday, and sailed through the full Senate on a voice vote late last night.


"The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina made painfully clear the urgent need for improvements to our aging infrastructure," Voinovich said in his news release Tuesday.


Today, after his bill had passed the full Senate, Voinovich tweaked his statement:


"The tragedies of Hurricane Katrina and the bridge collapse in Minnesota make painfully clear the urgent need for improvements to our aging infrastructure."