Senate Health Bill Approved: What it Means for Transportation
After 14 months of drama, deal-making, and declarations of its demise, the health care legislation envisioned by President Obama and congressional Democrats finally cleared its biggest hurdle last night, with the House approving the Senate-passed measure on a 219-212 vote.
March 22, 2010
Inhofe: California is Dictating to Feds on Auto Fuel Efficiency
The senior Republican on the Senate environment panel has criticized the House transportation bill for strengthening federal involvement at the expense of states -- but when it comes to last year's agreement to raise national fuel-efficiency standards, Sen. Jim Inhofe (OK) is making the opposite argument, accusing the White House of letting one state dictate auto policy.
March 22, 2010
Today’s Headlines
Philly’s biggest newspaper urges LaHood to approve the state’s bid to toll I-80 (Inquirer) A profile of Detroit’s nascent urban farming effort (Free Press) Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (D) to hold state “transportation summit” this month (AP) Houston mayor says Obama administration is pushing her to get the local transit authority’s act together to ensure … Continued
March 22, 2010
Transit Industry Group Adds a Caveat to Its Stance on Operating Aid
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which has represented the transit industry in Washington for more than 120 years, has openly welcomed the year-long push for Congress to relax longstanding rules that prevent large urban agencies to spend federal grant money on their operating costs.
March 19, 2010
Transport Fix to Jobs Bill Would Take $192M From CA, Send $76M to TX
Fixing a disputed provision in the jobs bill that President Obama signed into law yesterday -- as Senate Democratic leaders promised House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) following complaints by several members of his panel -- would involve the redistribution of $932 million in funding for two major federal road and rail programs.
March 19, 2010
Today’s Headlines
LaHood roasted with Toyota jokes at off-the-record dinner, featuring tributes from the president and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel (The Hill) Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) makes it clear that she’s on board with L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa’s increasinly popular “30/10” transit plan (LAist) As Obama signs a $20 billion highway trust fund infusion into … Continued
March 19, 2010
Inhofe Questions Transit and Bike-Ped Investments in House Transport Bill
The senior Republican on the Senate environment panel today criticized the House's six-year transportation bill, lamenting that the measure "focus[es] very heavily on transit, bike paths, and sidewalks" and carves out a strong federal role in "decisions historically left to the state level."
March 18, 2010
McCaskill Asks LaHood to ‘Put an End to’ Transportation Earmarks
When House leaders agreed last week to ban earmarks to for-profit entities, tax and transportation projects got a notable exemption. But that doesn't mean Congress has no appetite to curb transport earmarks, as Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) showed in a letter sent this week to U.S. DOT chief Ray LaHood.
March 18, 2010
Today’s Headlines
(Image: Purdue University via Grist) Above is a map tracking where CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are originating — distressing news for cities? (Grist) LaHood gets lobbied to support direct aid to cities and more federal transit operating aid (Press-Enterprise, Current) A rallying cry for Congress to get behind federal aid for L.A.’s 30/10 transit … Continued
March 18, 2010
Automakers Oppose Congressional Bid to Bar EPA From Limiting Emissions
The auto industry today aligned with the White House in the debate over a congressional bid to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon emissions while lawmakers work to pass a climate bill, warning that such an attempt to yank EPA authority "would collapse" last year's agreement to raise fuel-efficiency standards.
March 17, 2010