Today’s Headlines

  • Federal highway safety regulators knew that cell phone use while driving — even on a hands-free device — was a massive safety risk, but they hid it from Congress (NYT)
  • LaHood’s stimulus tour stops in Sarasota, Florida (Herald-Trib)
  • Don’t fret, New Yorkers: The $8 billion Hudson transit tunnel is on track for federal money whether or not Congress approves a transport bill this year (NJ.com)
  • Washington is approving a lot of road stimulus projects, but that doesn’t mean shovels are in the ground (LAT)
  • House GOPers want to force the White House to release more details on its dealings with the domestic auto industry (CQ)

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Today’s Headlines

By Elana Schor |
As Congress works on its new, likely infrastructure-tinged jobs bill, it’s avoiding the "S" word (The Hill) Speaking of stimulus, federal dollars aren’t making much of an economic splash in California — yet (C.C. Times) California’s senators join Schwarzenegger for a White House letter on high-speed rail (SFGate Blog) Florida edges closer to filling its […]

White House Backs $50B For ‘Merit-Based Infrastructure Investment’

By Elana Schor |
President Obama today threw his weight behind significant new transportation spending as part of a broad jobs bill taking shape in Congress, with $50 billion slated for transit, roads, bridges, and ports and the administration endorsing "merit-based infrastructure investment that leverages federal dollars." President Obama gave a high-profile jobs speech today. (Photo: NYT) During his […]

Oberstar Stays Optimistic About New Transport Bill in 2010

By Elana Schor |
House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) today renewed his call for action on a new federal infrastructure bill before year’s end, using a hearing on the Obama administration’s stimulus law to urge passage of long-term legislation as well as a second round of short-term investment in roads, bridges, and rail. House transport committee chairman […]

Biden on Stimulus Aid to Cities: ‘We’re Trying … It’s Imperfect’

By Elana Schor |
Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged today that the White House’s economic recovery push has created stumbling blocks for cities hoping to take advantage of the stimulus, but he defended the administration’s efforts to take a more holistic view of transportation, housing, and other urban concerns. Vice President Joe Biden (Photo: PolitiFact.com) After a speech touting […]

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

By Elana Schor |
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 […]

One More Sign That the Stimulus Traded Infrastructure for Tax Cuts

By Elana Schor |
The independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an economic analysis of the Obama administration’s stimulus law this week, and one chart in particular (see below right, or a larger version here) is getting a lot of attention from bloggers, including Ezra Klein and Ryan Avent.  (Image: CBO) The chart’s message, simply put: the elements of […]