WSJ: House Democrats Craft Transportation Bill

From Wall Street Journal:

 House Democrats are crafting a transportation spending bill that would cost roughly $450 billion over six years, but no consensus has emerged on how to fund it, according to people familiar with the matter.  The bill for the first time would establish standards -- like reducing oil consumption and spurring economic growth -- that would influence which highway and transit projects get federal funding. It would also consolidate to six or fewer the number of Transportation Department programs used to channel money to states, giving local officials more flexibility to combat their transportation challenges.  The legislation is being drafted by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D., Minn.), who plans to release a blueprint of his bill later this week. He declined to comment.