The week of the conference, "I was sure that things were starting to move," says Brian Deery, senior director of the Associated General Contractors highway and transportation division. But as days passed, Deery says he then wasnt so sure. "If there are discussions going on behind closed doors, they are very tightly closed doors," he says.
Nick Yaksich, vice president for global public policy at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, believes conferees can beat the deadline. "I think it could happen quickly once they get an agreement on a number," he says.