A Rough Road Ahead

"The highway lobby, and its champions on Capitol Hill, have a knack for getting what they want. But they'll be put to the test this year, as Congress considers a new surface transportation reauthorization bill. Some key advantages that they enjoyed in the past -- a booming economy, a bulging Highway Trust Fund, and a legendary House committee chairman -- have disappeared. Their toughest sell may be a proposed increase in the federal gas tax to pay for all the projects in their $375 billion bill."