Recent Streetsblog USA posts about U.S. Senate

TCS: Disputed Transport Provision in Jobs Bill Rewarded Political Clout

By Elana Schor | Mar 2, 2010 | No Comments

A provision in the Senate jobs bill that would distribute $932 million in 2010 transportation funding based on existing earmarks is in line for a quick fix, thanks to a deal struck on Friday between House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Democratic leaders in the upper chamber. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), […]

Transportation Filibuster Update: Bunning Won’t Yield to Fellow GOPer

By Elana Schor | Mar 2, 2010 | 4 Comments

Federal infrastructure funding and many U.S. DOT workers remain in limbo today as Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) continues his one-man filibuster of legislation extending the 2005 transport law, turning himself into a Democratic target and a poster child for Washington gridlock. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) was heard quipping "tough s—t" as he began blocking an […]

LaHood Backs Feingold’s Plan to Cancel Unspent Transport Earmarks

By Elana Schor | Feb 26, 2010 | 1 Comment

When a member of Congress earmarks transportation money for a local project, the funding isn’t always spent in a timely manner. The Bush administration’s final budget proposed to cancel road earmarks that had sat largely unspent for 10 years, a move that would have freed up $626 million, according to Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). A […]

The Big Question: What is the Purpose of Federal Transportation Spending?

By Elana Schor | Feb 26, 2010 | No Comments

With the White House’s agenda crowded by high-profile debates that remain unresolved after lengthy talks with Congress — think health care, financial regulation, even unemployment benefits — only a handful of lawmakers are publicly engaging with the dominant issues surrounding the next long-term federal transportation bill. (Photo: UVA) Within that group of lawmakers, however, there […]

What Voinovich Wants From the White House: A New Politics for Transport

By Elana Schor | Feb 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), a longtime supporter of quick action on a new federal transportation bill, helped give Democrats a major victory this week when he voted for the Senate’s jobs measure after securing a promise for transportation votes in the upper chamber this year. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) (Photo: CNN) But viewing Voinovich’s move […]

Conrad Sees ‘Tough Choices’ Ahead on Transport, Naming VMT Tax & Tolls

By Elana Schor | Feb 24, 2010 | 3 Comments

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) today shed rare light on the extent of the nation’s transportation funding crisis, warning his fellow policymakers that "we are going to have to make tough choices" to raise enough money for continued federal investments in the built environment. (Chart: Senate Budget Committee) As he opened a hearing […]

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