As the debate over a new highway-transit bill heats up, construction and transportation officials are keeping a keen eye on Sen. Ron Wyden (D), the Finance Committee's new chairman. Wyden's panel will be at the center of the struggle to solve the legislation's toughest problem: finding the money to fund the new bill and rescue the struggling Highway Trust Fund.
The Oregon Democrat became Senate Finance chair on Feb. 12, succeeding Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who was confirmed on Feb. 6 as U.S. ambassador to China. Wyden has yet to say how he will address the trust fund and the new transportation bill, which would succeed the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21.