Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Streetsblog Capitol Hill

House GOP Yanks Transportation Earmark Requests — For How Long?

By Elana Schor | Mar 22, 2010 | 1 Comment

When House Republicans voted recently to renounce all earmarks for this year, the move appeared to one-up Democrats’ pledge to forgo earmarks to for-profit entities in 2010 — a vow that would not extend to transportation projects. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) (Photo: Cleveland.com) In fact, the congressional newspaper Roll Call reported today that GOP members […]

Senate Health Bill Approved: What it Means for Transportation

By Elana Schor | Mar 22, 2010 | 2 Comments

After 14 months of drama, deal-making, and declarations of its demise, the health care legislation envisioned by President Obama and congressional Democrats finally cleared its biggest hurdle last night, with the House approving the Senate-passed measure on a 219-212 vote. Safe Routes to School programs, such as this one, could see a boost from the […]

Inhofe: California is Dictating to Feds on Auto Fuel Efficiency

By Elana Schor | Mar 22, 2010 | 2 Comments

The senior Republican on the Senate environment panel has criticized the House transportation bill for strengthening federal involvement at the expense of states — but when it comes to last year’s agreement to raise national fuel-efficiency standards, Sen. Jim Inhofe (OK) is making the opposite argument, accusing the White House of letting one state dictate […]

Transit Industry Group Adds a Caveat to Its Stance on Operating Aid

By Elana Schor | Mar 19, 2010 | No Comments

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which has represented the transit industry in Washington for more than 120 years, has openly welcomed the year-long push for Congress to relax longstanding rules that prevent large urban agencies to spend federal grant money on their operating costs. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) (Photo: AAAS) APTA president William Millar […]

Transport Fix to Jobs Bill Would Take $192M From CA, Send $76M to TX

By Elana Schor | Mar 19, 2010 | No Comments

House transport panel chairman Jim Oberstar’s (D-MN) state would lose an estimated $9.5 million under the fix. (Photo: Jonathan Maus) Fixing a disputed provision in the jobs bill that President Obama signed into law yesterday — as Senate Democratic leaders promised House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) following complaints by several members of his […]

Inhofe Questions Transit and Bike-Ped Investments in House Transport Bill

By Elana Schor | Mar 18, 2010 | 12 Comments

The senior Republican on the Senate environment panel today criticized the House’s six-year transportation bill, lamenting that the measure "focus[es] very heavily on transit, bike paths, and sidewalks" and carves out a strong federal role in "decisions historically left to the state level." Inhofe’s concerns, raised at the latest in the environment committee’s series of […]

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