Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood yesterday went to Capitol Hill and asked Congress to pass an immediate 18-month highway reauthorization and put off the bigger issues about how we're going to fund our infrastructure long-term.

He called for reforms rather than raising the fuel tax during a recession.

"This morning, I went to Capitol Hill to brief members of Congress on the situation with the Highway Trust Fund," LaHood said in a statement. "I am proposing an immediate 18-month highway reauthorization that will replenish the Highway Trust Fund. If this step is not taken, the trust fund will run out of money as soon as late August and states will be in danger of losing the vital transportation funding they need and expect.

"As part of this, I am proposing that we enact critical reforms to help us make better investment decisions with cost-benefit analysis, focus on more investments in metropolitan areas and promote the concept of livability to more closely link home and work. The Administration opposes a gas tax increase during this challenging, recessionary period, which has hit consumers and businesses hard across our country."

But, as the Wall Street Journal notes, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. James Oberstar (D., Minn.), doesn't want to put off addressing the nation's long-term infrastructure-financing problem. Oberstar wants to increase highway funding significantly starting in October, according to the paper.

Oberstar plans to unveil a new $450 billion, six-year transportation-spending bill this week, and hopes to bring it to the House floor for a vote before the August recess.

LaHood, in his statement, says he recognizes "that there will be concerns raised about this approach. However, with the reality of our fiscal environment and the critical demand to address our infrastructure investments in a smarter, more focused approach, we should not rush legislation. We should work together on a full reauthorization that best meets the demands of the country. The first step is making sure that the Highway Trust Fund is solvent. The next step is addressing our transportation priorities over the long term."

You can read more about LaHood's position on his blog at http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/06/lets-face-reality-on-the-highway-trust-fund.html.