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The federal government’s latest hours-of-service proposal will result in reduced wages for hundreds of thousands of truck drivers, significant costs for trucking companies and billions of dollars in lost productivity, American Trucking Associations told the Obama administration.

WASHINGTON — President Obama called on Congress to extend the nation’s current transportation funding law before it expires Sept. 30 and then launch a “serious conversation” about how to make lasting investments in infrastructure.

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will support a temporary extension of the nation’s current transportation plan when Congress returns to session next month, an aide said.

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will support a temporary extension of the nation’s transportation spending plan when Congress returns to Washington next month, an aide said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Thursday announced more than $8 million in federal grants aimed at improving commercial truck and bus safety in Pennsylvania.

Air quality at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continued to significantly improve during 2010, each port registering a roughly 40% decline in diesel particulate matter emissions when compared to 2009, according to new port emissions inventory studies.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is moving ahead with his plan to lease the Ohio Turnpike to a private operator, telling a newspaper that he plans to hire a consultant to determine the road’s value.

Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist said he will not try to get federal fuel taxes eliminated during the expected congressional debate in September over whether to extend the nation’s transportation spending plan, Bloomberg reported.

South Carolina’s Transportation Department does not have enough cash to meet its payments in August and is asking the federal government for help, state officials said.