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> Another option that has been examined is shifting the reauthorization <br /> > cycle from six years to two years, which could reduce some of the political <br /> > pressure lawmakers feel when considering spending increases since the total <br /> > amounts authorized would be significantly less. <br /> > But Young said he remains committed to indexing the gas tax or "user <br /> > fee" arguing it is the most appropriate way to fund the federal <br /> > transportation budget. <br /> > Young rejects the belief that indexing the tax would constitute a new <br /> > or increased tax, saying flatly, "It's not a tax." <br /> > However, Young acknowledged that supporters of the plan must continue <br /> > to make their case to the public and indicated he would step up efforts to <br /> > sell his plan over the next several months. <br /> > Despite his loyalty to Bush and the Republican Party, Young was <br /> > critical of the administration's TEA-21 reauthorization plan. He chided the <br /> > White House for billing its proposal as being centered around boosting <br /> > safety while not increasing spending, arguing more investment in existing <br /> > infrastructure is the primary way to reducing transportation-related <br /> > accidents and deaths. <br /> > Young also ruled out the possibility that either the administration <br /> > plan or something similar would eventually surface from the congressional <br /> > debate over TEA-21 reauthorization, quipping that "a bill that's not <br /> > properly funded is no bill at all, in my opinion." <br /> > However, Young said he hoped the White House's position would soften <br /> <br /> > with the recent departure of OMB Director Daniels. Daniels, whose office <br /> <br /> > oversees federal spending and regulatory activities, has long been known as <br /> <br /> > a fiscal hawk, and he reportedly forced Transportation Secretary Mineta to <br /> <br /> > make significant cuts in his original TEA-21 blueprint. <br /> <br /> > "I think Mitch Daniels' leaving is good because he has always hated <br /> <br /> > the idea of trust funds" like the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for federal <br /> <br /> > transportation projects. <br /> 5 <br /> <br />