Elana Schor
Recent Posts
Congress Set to Double the Size of Sprawl-Centric Home Buyer’s Tax Credit
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The $8,000 tax credit for new home buyers — which was wracked by fraudulent claims after its creation as part of the nation’s economic recovery effort — is on the verge of a significant expansion by Congress. Just how much will the tax credit mushroom thanks to the deal reached in the Senate? As the […]
Kerry: There’s a Narrow Window For GOP Cooperation on Pricing Pollution
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The chief sponsor of the Senate climate change bill acknowledged today that there is a narrow window for Republican cooperation on the legislation, thanks to GOP resistance to its central goal — putting a price on CO2 emissions. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), at right, with climate bill co-author Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (Photo: NWF via […]
Senate Democrats Poke Holes in GOP’s Climate Change ‘Boycott’
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Republicans on the Senate environment committee made good on their vow to boycott this morning’s first meeting on climate change legislation, leaving Democrats to poke holes in the GOP’s insistence on a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis of the bill. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) visited the environment panel this morning to read a statement […]
Buffett’s Bet on Burlington: What Does it Mean for Transport and Energy?
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The financial world was riveted this morning by billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s move to take full ownership of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad, a $34 billion deal that ranks as the largest ever executed by Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett (Photo: Redfin) But what does Buffett’s purchase mean for the nation’s energy […]
To Limit Distracted Driving, Congress Leans Toward a Carrot-Stick Combo
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Partisanship is a fact of life in Washington, often slowing down progress on issues from health care to climate change. But when it comes to preventing the use of electronic devices behind the wheel, a congressional consensus is emerging in favor of federal action — even as the extent of GOP support for a punitive […]
Inhofe Blasts Transport Bill Inaction That Comes From His Own Party
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The Senate environment committee’s senior Republican, Jim Inhofe (OK), delivered a stern warning today to any lawmakers who would force another short-term extension of federal transportation programs, which are set to expire at midnight Saturday. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) (Photo: NewsOK) "We have bridges in Oklahoma that are crumbling and falling down. People could be […]
A Republican Returns to Congress With A Map to Transportation Reform
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During his 24 years in Congress, former Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) was known for a brand of Republicanism now considered endangered. An ardent environmentalist and defender of objective government science, he played a key role in drafting the acid rain limits that are serving as a model for this year’s climate change fight. Former Rep. […]
Senior Dems Release New Distracted Driving Bill as LaHood Testifies
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Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today unveiled his plan to take an incentive-based approach to distracted driving as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified on the Obama administration’s campaign to end the use of electronic devices behind the wheel. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) (Photo: Wired) Rockefeller’s bill, co-sponsored by three Republicans […]
Transportation Policy Becomes the Proverbial Tree Falling in the Forest
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Halfway through this afternoon’s rally in support of a new federal transportation bill, there came an accidental but telling moment. A group of tourists, attracted by the hundreds of orange flags planted in the National Mall for the rally, walked through the event and whispered questions to attendees about its purpose. Once their curiosity was […]
Philly Mayor Tells Senate: Climate Bill Can Help Make Cities Greener
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As the Senate opened its second round of climate change hearings today, Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter delivered the urban case for climate legislation, outlining an array of infrastructure improvements and green reforms that would be made possible by federal action to reduce carbon emissions. A sample image of Philadelphia’s proposed "green corridors." (Image: Lomo Civic […]
Transport Policy Update: Senate to Pass 6-Month Extension This Week
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Before week’s end, the Senate will pass a six-month extension of the nation’s four-year-old transportation law — setting the stage for another showdown with the House, where transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar remains on the fence about abandoning the push for a new long-term bill before 2010. Photo: USGS.gov Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) […]
Feds Gambled More on Electric Cars in 6 Months Than Transit Gets All Year
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Vice President Joe Biden will return to his home state of Delaware today to announce that California car company Fisker Automotive will reopen a shuttered General Motors plant to build a moderately priced plug-in hybrid that goes by the code name Project NINA. The Wilmington, Delaware, GM plant that Fisker plans to reopen. (Photo: NYT) […]