Federal transportation debate intensifies

Actions taken last week in both the House and Senate showed the disagreement that exists between major players about a new federal transportation bill.  In the House, Congressman Jim Oberstar, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was joined by Congressman DeFazio of Oregon and Senator Voinovich of Ohio in speaking out against a simple 18-month reauthorization and in favor of passage of a new bill now being developed in the House.  Meanwhile, the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer, passed a clean 18-month extension bill, in line with the wishes of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the Obama administration.   The very public disagreement comes on the heels of a New York Times article which found that cities and their surrounding regions are getting far less than two-thirds of federal transportation recovery funds, demonstrating the need for real reform on any new transportation legislation.