Let the Federal Transportation Bill Debate Begin!

Overshadowed by today's leading news on President Obama's health care proposals and plans to overhaul the nation's financial regulatory structure, a significant event occured yesterday and today with respect to the forthcoming federal Transportation Bill. Just as Representative Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) was poised to release his transportation bill outline (many months in the making) at a press conference today, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced yesterday that the Administration was seeking an 18 month extension of the current legislation to replenish the Highway Trust Fund with some reforms; although specifics were few. The NY Times reported that Chairman Oberstar was "not too pleased with the Administration's proposal." T4America praised the outline of Oberstar's bill as being "transformational."