EconomyNews
When It Comes to Uber, Consumers May Speak Loudest
Last month, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles ordered rideshare companies Uber and Lyft to stop operating. But that doesn’t mean the companies or consumers… Read More
EconomyNews
Another State Attempts to Block Ride-Sharing Companies Uber, Lyft
SANTA FE, N.M. — It’s called ride-sharing, a way to catch a ride using 21st century technology, embraced by millenials and free-market advocates as efficient… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Here’s a Crazy Idea: What About Reforming Transportation Spending Instead of Hiking Taxes?
Americans know the drill. When Congress faces a gap between its spending wants and available money, it is quick to ask for more money, instead… Read More
EconomyNews
Sunlight Report: Don’t Underestimate Export-Import Bank’s Corporate Friends
Despite losing a friend in House leadership and now his successor’s avowed lack of interest, the Export-Import Bank — which has been criticized for promoting… Read More
EconomyNews
Massachusetts City Is Latest to Wage War on Ride-Sharing Services
Officials in Cambridge, Mass., are going to war with ride-on-demand services in the name of protecting the public. The new rules being considered by the… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Hiking the Federal Gas Tax Is a Mistake. Here’s Why.
Much clamoring for more federal transportation spending, and fuel tax hikes to pay for it, has come out of Washington recently. The Highway Trust Fund… Read More
EconomyNews
California Can’t Convince Drivers to Trade in Clunkers for Cash
California is paying drivers to get their air-polluting cars off the road—and will throw in some cash to get a newer, more fuel-efficient model. But… Read More
LawNews
Florida Supreme Court Rules Against Red-Light Cameras
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Opponents of red-light cameras just got a little help from some new friends—the Florida Supreme Court. But they shouldn’t get too excited. The high… Read More
EconomyNews
3 Major U.S. Airlines Fight to Cancel Cheaper International Travel
A measure aimed at grounding an upstart airline offering affordable fares for transcontinental travel appears headed for a vote in the House of Representatives. The… Read More
EconomyNews
Virginia DMV Attempts to Shutter Ridesharing Companies Uber, Lyft
Just when you thought you couldn’t despise the Department of Motor Vehicles any more, Virginia’s DMV decided to wage war against popular passenger carrier companies… Read More
EconomyNews
Speed Cameras Make a Comeback in New Mexico’s Capital
SANTA FE, N.M.—A lot of people just don’t like traffic cameras. Two years ago, a 65-year-old Santa Fe man received the nickname “Speedcam Commando” after… Read More
EconomyNews
Seeing Green, Local Governments Rebuff Efforts to Turn Off Red Light Cameras
Red light cameras have generated millions in revenue for towns and cities across the country, but they’ve brought plenty of controversy, too. More than 500… Read More
Upstart Airline Creates Turbulence for Big U.S. Carriers, Union Leaders
An upstart transcontinental airline says it’s making headway with lower costs for passengers and higher pay for workers, but its business model put it on… Read More
Happy Birthday, Amtrak! Here Are Your Presents. Love, The Taxpayers.
Amtrak, the federally subsidized passenger rail service, made headlines in recent months after an Inspector General report said it offered $428,000 worth of free wine,… Read More
Steering Transportation Policy: Empower People and the States, Not Washington
Alfonse D’Amato, a long-time former Republican Senator from New York, reveled in his nickname: Senator Pothole. “It means you’re attentive and you’re there and available,”… Read More
Ryan Budget’s Transportation Takeaway: Give States More Flexibility and Control
Why does House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan’s (R–WI) budget proposal matter to you? Because it would empower citizens and state and local governments, not… Read More
Latest Jones Act Fiasco Costs New Jersey Taxpayers $700,000
A federal law called the Jones Act recently prevented New Jersey officials from treating dangerous roads with salt. Faced with a shortage of salt, state… Read More
The Policy Solution That Could Help You Spend Less Time Stuck in Traffic
States—not Washington—best understand their transportation problems and how to solve them. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R–WI) recently expressed this fact at the 2014… Read More
Obama’s Massive ‘Unified’ Transportation Plan Would Hurt Commuters, Businesses
If you set aside $50,000 dollars for your child’s college education, would you want to be forced to give a large portion of that money… Read More
Obama’s Heavy-Duty Audacity
President Obama grabbed headlines this week for (supposedly) bypassing Congress to advance his global warming agenda. As part of what aides characterize as a “muscular… Read More
Obama Changes His Rhetoric, Not His Liberal Prescriptions
In terms of substantive policy, President Barack Obama’s latest State of the Union Address contained little of interest. The President offered up more of the… Read More
It’s Good to Be the Budget Chairman: Patty Murray’s Omni-BUS Carve-Out
At least one special favor is hiding deep in the omnibus—giving one county’s government-subsidized transit system the advantage over private transportation. Buried on page 1,460… Read More
Phones on Airplanes: FCC Moves to Lift Rules
Something unusual is happening at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). At a meeting earlier this afternoon, the commission—led by Obama-appointed chairman Tom Wheeler—voted to review… Read More
Budget Conference Spending Cuts: Start with Amtrak Subsidies
A good place for budget conferees to start cutting federal spending would be at Amtrak, the federally subsidized passenger rail service, with its $72 million… Read More
Changing the Transportation Status Quo: Empowering the States
Senator Mike Lee (R–UT) and Representative Tom Graves (R–GA) have introduced twin bills (S. 1702 and H.R. 3486) called the Transportation Empowerment Act (TEA), which… Read More
Cloakroom: September 29 – October 5
House Cloakroom Analysis: On Saturday, the House did its part to take a government shutdown off the table by passing a bill that funded the… Read More
Why DOE Is Wasting $45 Million of Your Money
Last week we wrote about the Department of Energy (DOE) wastefully spending $45 million in taxpayer dollars on advanced transportation technologies. The federal government spending… Read More
What’s Another $45 Million at the Energy Department?
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is spending $45 million of taxpayer money for 38 different projects for advanced transportation technologies. But private companies… Read More
Obama on Infrastructure: Wrong Again on Government “Investments”
In yet another summer speech on the economy yesterday, President Obama trotted out familiar tax-and-spend ideas, this time pairing his latest call for a tax… Read More
SecurityNews
TSA PreCheck Expansion: A Step in the Right Direction
In a welcome move, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that it is expanding the pre-screening program known as PreCheck to the general public…. Read More
