From up on the Hill, a couple updates to pass along. The FY2003 omnibus spending bill is moving along now, with a few defeated amendments in its path, including a Democrat sponsored amendment which would have boosted homeland security spending by $5 billion. It was defeated 45-51. The GOP Leadership met earlier to encourage members to vote down all Democrat-sponsored amendments in the hopes of adhering to the administration's request to keep spending to $751.3 billion. The latest amendment would have provided money to first-responder grants, and security at many transportation locations including airports and ports.

Also, according to CQ, the House and Senate are somewhat divided on the idea proposed by Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) to increase the federal gas tax by $.02 annually and raise other revenue sources in order to expand the federal highway trust fund to $60 billion. Outgoing Finance Committee chairman (now senior Democrat) Senator Max Baucus, (D-Mont.) is opposed to raising taxes to increase the size of the fund, although he too wants to enlarge it. One method to do so would be to allow the fund to earn interest and to distribute that money to the states. As work on TEA-21 progresses, we'll be sure to update our clients and friends.