The General Assembly is at odds over how best to spend transportation funds. House Speaker Howell lays it out:

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) was cordial but blunt with the small group of business leaders and transportation advocates he invited to his office Tuesday. You fought for tax increases last year, he said. Now you have to fight for transportation.

If you don't, and the Senate kills my transportation proposals, don't expect me to lift a finger for roads or transit next year, Howell indicated, according to several participants in the meeting.

The House is trying to get legislation passed this session to commit money to transportation, while the State Senate apparently prefers to attac this problem next year, albeit in a larger (read more expensive) way.