John Mica
Where Is John Mica as Congress Takes Transpo Programs to the Brink?
Over the past month or two, I couldn’t help noticing that Rep. John Mica, chair of the Transportation Committee in the House, seemed completely consumed with fingerpointing at federal agencies. While the country’s transportation programs neared a crisis point -- and indeed, there is no other way to describe the current deadlock over a transpo bill -- the top dog in the House was barking up a whole other tree.
June 12, 2012
What Happened to John Mica, Pro-Transit Republican?
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member John Mica knew the value of good transit.
April 6, 2012
House Working on Transpo Extension, Buying Time for Backwards Bill
It looks like everyone who bet on "extension" can collect their winnings.
March 20, 2012
House Won’t Take Up Senate Transpo Bill as March 31 Deadline Looms
So much for bipartisanship.
March 16, 2012
John Mica Sidelined by House Leadership for Transpo Bill Rewrite
CQ and AmericaBikes are reporting that Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) has received a rebuke from House leadership, and will play a lesser role as the House reworks its foundering transportation bill. Mica will retain his chairmanship, but he will take a back seat to Railroad Subcommittee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).
March 6, 2012
House Scales Back Transpo Bill But Keeps on Attacking Safe Streets
UPDATE (3:45 p.m.): Citing a lack of support from his colleagues, Speaker John Boehner has dropped his 18-month transportation proposal and has not yet offered an alternative, according to Politico. "A five-year bill is the best way to do this," he said.
March 1, 2012
Another GOP Transportation Proposal That’s Really All About Oil Drilling
Democrats in the Senate Finance Committee have been working to find $12 billion to fund the transportation bill for the next two years. All their proposals have met with rejection from the committee's Republicans. Here's why: The Republicans have been holding out for a funding mix that would include their favorite Christmas presents -- oil drilling and attacks on conservation.
December 9, 2011
LaHood Defends High-Speed Rail Program At House Hearing
It's Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's birthday, and he's spending it testifying before the House Transportation Committee. The hearing is on "Mistakes & Lessons Learned" from the high-speed rail program, but -- no surprise here -- LaHood and House Republicans have differing ideas about what "mistakes" have been made.
December 6, 2011
House GOP Slows Down Its Rush to Introduce Oil-and-Infrastructure Bill
Just this morning, Politico was reporting that the House would introduce the legislative text of its transportation proposal on Monday, but just a few short hours ago, House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica gave a speech at the University of Virginia in which he said there would be no movement on the bill until next year. He also sent some encouraging signals that his committee won't draft a bill that's all about highways.
November 30, 2011
House GOP Takes the Plunge, Unveils Transportation and Energy Plan Today
UPDATE 12:00: Leaders did not introduce a bill, but outlined their plan in rather vague terms. More to come.
November 17, 2011