House of Representatives
Basics
Transportation Filibuster Update: Bunning Won’t Yield to Fellow GOPer
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.
March 2, 2010
Deja Vu Again: One-Man Senate Filibuster Imperils Federal Transport Law
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.
February 26, 2010
Fact-Checking the Toyota Hearing: Lower Speeds Increase Safety
Megan McArdle at the Atlantic, writing on today's Toyota hearing in the House oversight committee, hears Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood claim that "lowering the speed limit to 30 mph would not save any lives, which is why we have minimum speeds on highways."
February 24, 2010
Little-Known Provision in Senate Jobs Bill Could Spark House Resistance
The Senate passed its jobs bill today by a 70-28 vote, bringing Congress one step closer to a $20 billion transfer that would keep the nation's highway trust fund solvent until 2011 and extend the 2005 federal transportation law.
February 24, 2010
A Vow to ‘Bring Republicans to the Table’ for a New Transport Bill
Despite Senate Democratic efforts to move quickly on a new jobs bill that includes infrastructure investment and takes steps towards solving the nation's transportation financing dilemma, Congress has just two more weeks of work until time runs out on the latest short-term extension of the five-year-old law governing federal transport policy.
February 8, 2010
How Car Dealers Wiggled Out of the Democrats’ Consumer Protection Bill
Auto loans and leases account for a major chunk of the U.S. financial market -- one nonpartisan research group recently pegged American car debt at $850 billion, larger than the entire credit-card industry. So perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that car dealers' lobbied themselves an exemption from the new consumer watchdog included in the House financial reform bill that cleared the House earlier this month.
December 30, 2009
The 2009 Capitol Hill Streetsies: And the Nominees Are …
The year-end Streetsie Awards are a time-honored tradition at Streetsblog -- check out New York's first round of honorees, hot off the presses today -- and Capitol Hill certainly has provided plenty of material. Without further ado, here are the nominees for Washington's brightest and bleakest moments of 2009. Winners will be announced on New Year's Eve, so don't forget to root for your favorites (by emailing elana [at] streetsblog [dot] org).
December 29, 2009
Two Dems Propose to End Bush-Era Rule on Transit ‘Cost-Effectiveness’
New Starts, the main federal method for funding big-ticket transit projects, is considered sorely in need of a makeover by many in the capital.
December 17, 2009
House Jobs Bill Answers Some Key Transportation Questions
The House jobs bill, expected to pass later today before the chamber adjourns for the holidays, includes a $75 billion infrastructure section that gives $27.5 billion to roads and $8.4 billion to transit, largely mirroring this year's first economic stimulus law.
December 16, 2009
Congressional Black Caucus Calls for Bypassing States on New Jobs Bill
As the $787 billion stimulus law nears its one-year anniversary, Congress' choice to route the lion's share of recovery funds through state capitals -- including state DOTs where misplaced priorities are all too common -- remains a sore spot for mayors and urban advocates.
December 11, 2009