Calls The Measure A "Done Deal"

Speaking at a car show in Dearborn, MI, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that a long-term funding bill for the FAA is a "done deal," and expressed additional optimism that a long-term transportation measure would also be passed this year by the congress.

Bloomberg Business News reports that LaHood told reporters at the Michigan event that "The FAA is done ... they're going to vote on it. There is an agreement, it will be a multi-year bill, and we're very happy about it."

The FAA has been operating on temporary extensions of its funding since the last long-term bill ran out in 2007. The House and Senate late last week passed a 23rd continuing resolution since that time, which funds the agency through February 17th. Much of official Washington is saying that could will be the last of the long string of CRs.

LaHood said he thinks Congress will pass the long-term bill before this latest CR expires. He also said that he is optimistic that Congress will pass long-term funding for the Department of Transportation, as was called for in the President's State of the Union address.

FMI: www.dot.gov