Many call him a bully but Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is used to getting his way. He faces a big test of his might this year with $375 billion transportation bill that President Bush is threatening to veto.

Young named the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) after his Alaska Native wife. In it, he proposes to raise a gasoline tax -- a "user fee" he calls it -- in order to pay for new projects.

Some Republicans oppose the tax hike. So Young is going around them by traveling to Congressional districts to promote his bill as one that will create jobs and economic development.

The bill would provide increases in the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program that tribal leaders support. The Senate version includes an increase as well.

Get the Story:
All Roads Lead to This Congressman (The Los Angeles Times 3/2)
pwlat

Get the Bills:
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R.3550) | S.1072 (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003)

Relevant Links:
TEA-21 Reauthorization - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization
Tribal Transportation, DOT - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/natvamrc/index.htm

Related Stories:
Tribes lobby for more funds in transportation bill (2/19)
Senate approves $318B highway transportation bill (02/13)
Domenici cites spending hike for reservation roads (2/12)
Senate committee approves reservation roads bill (06/27)
Editorial: Congress needs to fund reservation roads (06/05)
Senate committee to take up reservation roads (6/3)
BIA delaying distribution of federal road money (05/30)
Alaska's Young wants $375B for transportation (05/16)
New federal highway funds bill introduced (05/15)
Advocates seek boost for Indian Country roads (03/28)
Rahall: The Indian agenda in the 108th Congress (01/08)
State disputes 'illegal jurisdiction' of tribe (10/10)
Bill to double reservation road funds (09/24)
Federal appeals court affirms tribal authority (8/15)
McCaleb tussles with tribal leaders over roads (11/8)