Deja Vu

When it comes to the FAA, expect déjà vu all over again. Congress returns next week and faces the task of re-authorizing transportation and aviation programs. The FAA's authorization expires Sept. 16. Lawmakers and the White House both say they want to avoid a repeat performance of the August stalemate that furloughed 4,000 FAA workers. About 16,000 construction workers also went without pay during the two-week shutdown. Federal highway programs, including the fuel taxes that pay for them, expire Sept. 30. The president said if Congress doesn't reauthorize those programs, a million people could be out of work.