1. TRANSPORTATION:
DOT chief seeks immediate $8B bailout for highway account

The Bush administration asked Congress today for a swift $8 billion bailout of a strapped federal fund that reimburses states for highway construction and maintenance. That part of the Highway Trust Fund is expected to run out of cash Oct. 1, the first day of fiscal 2009, because Americans have dramatically curtailed their driving in the face of high gasoline prices, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said. The account is fueled by taxes on gasoline and diesel. Go to story #1