Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is not known as a friend of green transportation — and that’s putting it mildly.

GOP Rep. Don Young (AK) showed a flash of reason today. (Photo: Progressive Alaska)

During his reign as House transportation committee chairman, Young passed a $283 billion bill that helped bloat the federal bureaucracy while steering disproportionate cash to highways; stretched the limits of the law by sending $10 million to widen a Florida highway that no one wanted widened; spearheaded his home state’s "bridge to nowhere"; and declared pride in these dubious achievements.

But this afternoon, Young showed a glimmer of the political courage that led him to break from GOP orthodoxy in calling for a $1/gallon gas tax increase. Referencing the mounting clash between the transportation committee and the Obama administration, Young said:

This is the beginning of a long and arduous process. For those of you in the audience who have interest in this, it’s up to you to generate heat on the administration and the Senate.

Good point. In fact, the House could be added to that list.