Automobiles

The Democratic ad repeatedly plays a 2008 clip of the presidential hopeful saying "Let Detroit go bankrupt."

The two U.S. senators from Connecticut on Monday introduced a bill that would end the ability of any state to tax income earned by telecommuters who are not physically located in that state.

Sens. Joe Lieberman (I) and Richard Blumenthal (D) said the Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act, S. 1811, would help encourage telecommuting, which could create jobs, relieve traffic congestion and reduce the demand for gasoline.

The Obama administration's call for cars getting 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 should be met without favoring any particular clean-energy technology, former President George W. Bush's Transportation secretary Norman Mineta said Monday.

Mineta, who served in President Bush's Cabinet until 2006 and before that as Democratic member of California's House delegation, was speaking Monday in Washington on behalf of the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars.

He called for "technology-neutral" clean-energy policies for automobiles.

"Trying to get to 54 miles per gallon is not going to [just] be answered by either hybrid or electric," he said in an interview with The Hill. "There's room for clean gas and turbo-charged engines. You can have a smaller engine, a lighter engine and still end up having horsepower and less emissions."

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Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole will face another committee of lawmakers this week as the agency recovers from the latest firestorm about its airport security procedures.

Pistole will appear Wednesday before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to update lawmakers on TSA's current procedures, including its new Pre-Check known-traveler program and its behavior detection efforts. 

Pistole recently delivered a similar update before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee during a hearing called to examine aviation security a decade after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

Former President George W. Bush's transportation secretary Norman Mineta will deliver a speech next week in Washington about fuel economy standards for cars.

Mineta, who served in President Bush's Cabinet until 2006 and before that as Democratic member of California's House delegation, will speak Monday at the National Press Club. Mineta will make the case for "technology neutral" clean-energy policies for automobiles.

"Secretary Mineta will encourage federal and state policymakers to establish performance-based targets rather than endorsing a singular technology such as electrification," the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, which is publishing Mineta's proposals, said in a statement announcing his speech.

Mineta, who also was Commerce Secretary under former President Bill Clinton, will be joined Monday by Coalition for Advance Diesel Cars Executive Director Jeff Breneman.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Arizona is looking to expand the Grand Canyon airport.

Los Angeles International Airport has become more safe since 9/11, a new study says.

A Polish airport has been closed since a 767 made an emergency landing there.

Swedish automaker Saab is looking for a new CEO after its sale to two Chinese companies.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Republicans have picked a bus company for their convention in Tampa next year.

The Detroit airport board has fired its CEO.

Chicago's airports are going green.

A pair of Chinese companies are planning to buy Swedish automaker Saab.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

A Miami sports writer was trapped on a plane that was stuck for seven hours during the East Coast snow storm this weekend.

Changing the name of an airport in Mississippi is proving to be expensive.

The organizers of a proposed high-speed railway in California are releasing a new business plan this week.

A Miami police officer has been arrested for speeding in his squad car.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Michigan Gov. Rick Synder (R) says he wants to improve transportation to attract young people.

A runway at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport is being renovated.

Railroad workers on Long Island have been charged with disability fraud.

A Swedish automobile company is in talks to buy Saab.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Ad Council are targeting texting-while-driving in a new public awareness campaign launched Thursday.

The ads, titled "Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks,” show the length of time a driver takes his or her eyes off the road to read and respond to a text, leading in the commercials to an accident.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he hopes the campaign "will send a strong message to teens that putting away cellphones and other distractions while you're driving is not just common-sense safe behavior, it can save your life."