Recent Streetsblog USA posts about 2009 Transportation Bill

Could Transport Bill Inaction Hurt the White House’s Sustainability Push?

By Elana Schor | Mar 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

The White House’s lack of interest in passing a new long-term federal transportation bill before next spring at the earliest is common knowledge in Washington, but the Obama administration has paid little political price so far for its approach to the issue. That began to change today, thanks to two lawmakers on the House panel […]

Senate Starts Work on New Transport Bill, With House Version as a Guide

By Elana Schor | Mar 3, 2010 | 6 Comments

The Senate today took its first steps towards voting on a new long-term federal transportation bill, with environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) vowing to take up a successor to the 2005 infrastructure law before 2011 and indicating she would use the House’s already-introduced version as a framework. Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA), […]

Bunning Throws in the Towel, Congress Restores Transport Funding

By Elana Schor | Mar 3, 2010 | No Comments

Workers at the U.S. DOT and on transportation projects around the country are back on the job today after Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) lost his politically hazardous battle against a 30-day extension of federal infrastructure law and unemployment benefits. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (Photo: CNN) But while Republicans sought to distance themselves from Bunning’s five-day […]

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 […]

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 […]

Deja Vu Again: One-Man Senate Filibuster Imperils Federal Transport Law

By Elana Schor | Feb 26, 2010 | 12 Comments

A familiar script for Washington infrastructure watchers began to unfold last night on the Senate floor, as House-side resistance to a 10-month extension of existing federal transportation law prompted Democratic leaders to seek a quick deal on a one-month stopgap — the fourth such short-term move in six months. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (Photo: CNN) […]

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