What Wasn’t in This Week’s Highway Trust Fund Patch
Transportation's make-or-break week in Washington has ended with a funding face-off postponed until fall, thanks to Senate passage of a short-term, $7 billion rescue for the nation's highway trust fund.
July 31, 2009
House Quickly Sends $2 Billion More to ‘Cash for Clunkers’
The "cash for clunkers" rebate program, which promises new auto buyers up to $4,500 for fuel-efficiency upgrades as small as 2 miles per gallon, is back to life after burning through $1 billion in taxpayer cash.
July 31, 2009
‘Cash for Clunkers’ Out of Cash — But Not Quite Finished
The U.S. DOT may have notified car dealers last night that its watered-down "cash for clunkers" plan was already out of cash, but that doesn't mean the rebates are on their last legs. With the White House vowing to protect the program, Congress soon could have to decide whether to keep the good times rolling for auto companies.
July 31, 2009
Today’s Headlines
D’oh! “Cash for clunkers” is headed for the scrap bin, four days after it began (NYT) Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, supports congressional ban on texting while driving (InfoWeek) Two years after Minnesota’s fatal bridge collapse, the state’s riskiest bridges are missing out on stimulus money (AP) Government investigators find 20 “living dead” … … Continued
July 31, 2009
An Urban Planning Tale That Writes Itself
In Fort Myers, Florida, one family is the sole occupant of a 32-story luxury condominium. That is not a typo:
July 30, 2009
A Suggestion for Today’s ‘Beer Summit’
It's become the pint heard 'round the world, thanks to the fascinated mainstream media -- and in a few hours, President Obama will finally sit down for a beer with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sgt. James Crowley, the Cambridge police officer who arrested Gates in his own home two weeks ago.
July 30, 2009
McCain & Coburn: Let’s Make Roads Safer — by Slashing Safety Money
A report released today [PDF] by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), timed to coincide with debate on a $7 billion highway trust fund fix, accuses their fellow lawmakers of "raiding" the fund for transportation "pet projects."
July 30, 2009
Senate Debating House’s $7B Trust Fund Fix, With 4 GOP Amendments
The Senate began debate this morning on the $7 billion rescue of the nation's highway trust fund that was passed by the House late yesterday, with four GOP amendments slated for a vote.
July 30, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Chief of AFL-CIO’s transport unions: DeFazio’s oil securities tax is “an exciting proposal” (AFL Blog) Feds giving cities more money for transit security (AFP) How will the House v. Senate face-off on transport funding end? Some lobbyists see a six-month compromise (Roll Call) Horrors! Utah highway officials fear more money for transit (SL Trib) Virginia’s … Continued
July 30, 2009
Succumbing to Senate Pressure, House Boosts Trust Fund Rescue to $7B
The House just approved its short-term fix for the nation's highway trust fund by a vote of 363-68 ... but something happened on the way to the floor: What began as a $5 billion rescue became a $7 billion one.
July 29, 2009