More federal aid to L.A.

Millions of dollars are expected to flow to Southern California projects under several massive spending bills approved by the House last week, even as the new Democratic majority denied a number of GOP pet projects for the region. Lisa Friedman in the Daily News.

And in addition to funding dozens of local projects, local lawmakers also increased the amounts California and other states will be reimbursed for the costs of jailing criminal illegal immigrants.

Passing easily, a $104.4 billion transportation and housing measure and a $53.6 billion bill funding the Commerce, State and Justice departments for 2008 now head to the Senate.

"We had a number of significant achievements that are good for California and particularly good for Southern California," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, who was appointed this year to the House Appropriations Committee.