By Tom Curry and JM Rieger

The Senate on Tuesday rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., which would speed up the rebuilding of transportation infrastructure following natural disasters. “This is just common sense,” Toomey said on the Senate floor before the vote. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., however, said the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee already created an expedited process for post-disaster projects and said Toomey’s amendment could lead to “tremendous abuse” by over-riding environmental laws.