Senior House Members Urge Removal of Amtrak’s New In-House Watchdog
The chairman and senior Republican on the House oversight committee took a step further today in their investigation of internal conflicts at Amtrak, calling for the removal of the staffer who was installed as the rail company's inspector general (IG) after the sudden resignation of the previous in-house watchdog.
July 29, 2009
Senate Panel Backs $1.2B for High Speed Rail, $1.4B Extra For Highways
The Senate panel in charge of transportation spending has just released its version of the budget bill that passed the House last week, giving less to high-speed rail and more to highways than the lower chamber of Congress.
July 29, 2009
Four Senators Propose Pushing States to Ban Texting While Driving
Four Democratic senators introduced legislation today that would offer states a choice: ban texting and e-mailing while driving within two years or lose 25 percent of their federal highway money.
July 29, 2009
Your Burger or Your Car! (And More Fun with False Dichotomies)
The Washington Post's Ezra Klein, whose blog is a must-read look at the political dynamics of congressional policy-making, makes an eyebrow-raising assertion in his food column today:
July 29, 2009
Today’s Headlines
You read it first here on Streetsblog Cap Hill: House to give $5 billion to highway trust fund (Dow Jones) A bit panicky about the above news, the U.S. DOT starts warning states of possible late payments (JOC) Harvard economist Ed Glaeser examines high-speed rail (NYT) Having some fun with LaHood’s “cash for clunkers” imagery … Continued
July 29, 2009
How Soon Will Cutting Transportation Emissions Save Money?
Anyone who kept tabs on the House's climate change bill last month recalls much acrimonious ado about the plan's impact on average American pocketbooks. The GOP tossed out cost estimates that turned out to be manipulated, while nonpartisan projections showed the bill actually saving money for low-income families.
July 28, 2009
House to Move Tomorrow on $5B Highway Trust Fund Patch
The House could take up a temporary rescue for the highway trust fund as soon as tomorrow, with $5 billion the most likely amount of funding, according to a Democratic leadership aide.
July 28, 2009
Oberstar to White House: On Emissions, Back Up Your Words With Action
Appearing this morning at the release of a new report on transportation's role in fighting climate change, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) challenged the Obama administration to back up their emissions rhetoric with action and pass his six-year, $450 billion infrastructure bill.
July 28, 2009
Today’s Headlines
June was a good month for $787 billion stimulus bill, House transpo panel finds (Reuters) Oberstar writes his old buddy Larry Summers with concerns over airline competition (Dow Jones) Eight midwestern governors sign formal pact to seek high-speed rail money (Reuters) Texting while driving increases drivers’ risk of crashes by a factor of 23, according … Continued
July 28, 2009