Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Streetsblog Capitol Hill

McCaskill Asks LaHood to ‘Put an End to’ Transportation Earmarks

By Elana Schor | Mar 18, 2010 | 5 Comments

When House leaders agreed last week to ban earmarks to for-profit entities, tax and transportation projects got a notable exemption. But that doesn’t mean Congress has no appetite to curb transport earmarks, as Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) showed in a letter sent this week to U.S. DOT chief Ray LaHood. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) (Photo: […]

Automakers Oppose Congressional Bid to Bar EPA From Limiting Emissions

By Elana Schor | Mar 17, 2010 | No Comments

The auto industry today aligned with the White House in the debate over a congressional bid to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon emissions while lawmakers work to pass a climate bill, warning that such an attempt to yank EPA authority "would collapse" last year’s agreement to raise fuel-efficiency standards. (Photo: TreeHugger) […]

As Geithner Touts Infrastructure, Skepticism Persists on $4B ‘I-Fund’ Plan

By Elana Schor | Mar 17, 2010 | 1 Comment

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, considered a skeptic of transportation stimulus spending by some lawmakers, yesterday joined two other White House economic advisers in endorsing new infrastructure investment as a means to jump-start the economy. Geithner (l.) said that there is "a very good economic case" for infrastructure spending. (Photo: WaPo) But the president’s proposed $4 […]

Villaraigosa Steps Up Case for Federal Investment in “30/10” Transit Plan

By Elana Schor | Mar 17, 2010 | 3 Comments

Days after pitching the Senate environment committee for federal help with expediting his ambitious "30/10" package of new transit projects, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was back on the Hill yesterday meeting with lawmakers as part of a broad campaign for more investment in California infrastructure. Villaraigosa, at left, flanked by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). […]

Brown Offers Senate Plan For More Federal Operating Aid to Local Transit

By Elana Schor | Mar 16, 2010 | 7 Comments

Local transit officials seeking more federal operating aid during lean budgetary times got a new ally today in Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who introduced legislation in Congress’ upper chamber to give rail and bus agencies more flexibility to spend funding from Washington on averting service cuts and layoffs. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (Photo: Partnership for […]

Environmental Group Offers Congress a Map to Cleaner Freight

By Elana Schor | Mar 16, 2010 | 2 Comments

The federal government can reap significant pollution-reduction benefits by focusing on a national freight plan that replaces older diesel equipment with newer, cleaner-burning train cars while building out regional networks more efficiently, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said yesterday in a new report [PDF]. Freight rail in Chicago, home of the stimulus-funded CREATE freight project. […]

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