Recent Streetsblog LA posts about SAFETEA

Ohio Republican Senator: Voinovich: Business Buy-in Can Get Transportation Bill Done

By Elana Schor | Jun 25, 2009 | 3 Comments

George Voinovich (R-OH) may be the only senator who wants to forget about an 18-month extension of existing transportation law and move ahead quickly on broad reform. But that doesn’t mean he’s giving up. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), rendered by political caricaturist Kerry Waghorn. Getting business interests to work on methods for funding a long-term […]

Boxer: Forget Transportation Bill, Work with Me on Something Else

By Elana Schor | Jun 25, 2009 | 4 Comments

"Defender of the Environment" Boxer doesn’t want reforms or debate over gas tax increases to hold up transportation bill; but does favor an eighteen month delay. Photo: SteveRhodes/Flickr Green transportation advocates are pressing Congress to refuse any new spending that’s not tied to reform of the existing system — a call that influential senators in […]

House Dems Agree: Climate Bill Can Help Pay for Greener Transportation

By Elana Schor | Jun 24, 2009 | 1 Comment

Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday struck a deal ahead of Friday’s make-or-break vote on climate change legislation to give greener transportation a place at the table. The climate bill gives the states 10 percent of its carbon emissions allowances, the total worth of which is projected to hit $70 billion by […]

Oberstar’s Transportation Bill: The Early Word

By Elana Schor | Jun 22, 2009 | 1 Comment

Policy wonks across the capital are still poring over the 775-page bill released earlier today by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the House transportation committee. But searching the legislation for the key topics being debated by transportation reformers reveals new details and raises new questions. The most common phrase in the bill may well be three innocuous words: "to be supplied." This is in no small part thanks to the uncertain future of funding for Oberstar's $450 billion plan, a problem compounded by a White House preoccupied with health care and in no mood to raise the gas tax.

House GOPers Propose Filling Trust Fund With Stimulus Money

By Elana Schor | Jun 19, 2009 | No Comments

As their committee’s leaders butted heads with the Obama administration, a group of Republicans on the House transportation panel proposed to fill the $7 billion hole in the nation’s highway trust fund with unobligated money from the economic stimulus law. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) (Photo: SW Broward GOP) The bill, offered yesterday by Rep. Mario […]

Bi-Partisan Transpo. Team in House Ready to Take on Obama, LaHood

By Elana Schor | Jun 18, 2009 | 1 Comment

Senior members of the House transportation committee today fired a warning shot at those pushing an 18-month extension of existing federal law, putting the Obama administration and key senators on notice that their $450 billion proposal would move forward this year. How often does this man hold a shovel? (Photo: World Economic Forum via flickr) […]

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