As the House prepared to vote on a two-month surface transportation funding patch Tuesday, Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin hammered the short-term extension at Democrats’ weekly news conference, saying the legislation does not help long-term infrastructure planning. “What the Republicans have given us now — and this will be the 33rd, 33rd short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund — what the Republicans have given us now is an opportunity for America to patch its way to prosperity,” Durbin said. “They believe that if you fill enough potholes you can actually build a highway.” The House later passed the short-term Highway Trust Fund measure, 387-35.