(Photo: Model D Media)

House
and Senate negotiators struck a deal last night on a $106 billion war
spending bill that also gives cash-strapped transit agencies the
ability to use 10 percent of their economic stimulus grants to pay operating costs.

The issue of operating costs has heated up in recent weeks, with local transit officials supporting federal aid as a step towards more equitable funding consideration of all transportation modes.

Critics
of the idea contend that it is disingenuous to bill stimulus money for
transit operating as a short-term response to the economic recession —
or as Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) put it last week, "there is nothing more
permanent than a temporary government program."

But despite
Latham’s skepticism, the deal is done. The final version of the war
spending bill, with the transit operating aid provision intact, is
expected to become law as soon as next week.