Expiring on October 1, the law authorizing federal highway and transit programs was expected to be renewed sometime this legislative session. This past Wednesday, however, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asked for an 18 month extension of the transportation law that would delay the planned reauthorization past the 2010 congressional midterm elections.

Transit funding has taken a big hit in the House version of the stimulus bill, and yesterday some bloggers were speculating that it was because House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D., MN) had rolled over and allowed the money to go to tax cuts instead. But, the situation may not be as bad as it looks –- yet.

The upcoming Blueprint America special, The Big Fix, will include an interview with The New York Times op-ed columnist and recent Nobel laureate. Take a look at what he and others have had to say on how infrastructure spending will impact the economy.

Some pundits suggest Rep. James Oberstar (D., MN), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, could be near the top of the list for Transportation Secretary in the Obama administration.