The extension of the current transit law, passed in the House, has hit a bump: Senators John McCain (R-Arizona) and Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut) are holding the extension hostage until the September 11th commision is given an extra two months to complete its work.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) has been opposed to giving the 9/11 panel extra time to work with, despite the White House being on record for endorsing additional time. Hastert's spokesman, John Feehery, said Thursday that even if McCain and Lieberman are successful in sending the transit extension back to the house, that they "are not coming back", according to Congresional Quarterly.

If the two measures are not passed or unentangled, the Transportation Department will have to shut down operations at the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at the beginning of next week.