Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about U.S. Senate

Environmentalists, Transpo Reformers Brace for Scaled-Back Energy Bill

By John Burgess Everett | Jul 27, 2010 | No Comments

"We know we don’t have the votes." With those seven words last Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dashed hopes for a comprehensive climate bill. Prospects also dimmed for a transportation component in the final energy legislation that emerges from the Senate. Reid is expected to announce that plan later today. Harry Reid indicated last […]

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Senators Aim to Reintroduce Transportation Into Climate Bill Debate

By Noah Kazis | Jul 16, 2010 | No Comments

Sen. Jeff Merkley projects that his legislation would allow the United States to almost completely stop importing oil, primarily by reforming our transportation system. Image: Office of Sen. Merkley [PDF]. As the threat of a Republican filibuster continues to prevent the Senate from passing climate legislation, leading Democrats have tried to scale back their proposal […]

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The Car Loan Loophole: How Auto Dealers Dodged Financial Reform

By Catherine Lutz and Anne Lutz Fernandez | Jul 13, 2010 | No Comments

The fat lady hasn’t sung yet, but the country’s auto dealers have been exempted from the financial reform bill now in its final stage in Congress. Given that the purpose of the bill is to protect Americans from harmful manipulation by the people selling them financial products, this is a pretty stunning development. The nation’s […]

Schumer, Labor Leaders Rally to Keep Buses and Trains Running

By Ben Fried | Jun 11, 2010 | 3 Comments

L-r: Senator Chuck Schumer, ATU Vice President Larry Hanley, TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen, and City Council transportation chair James Vacca. Photo: Ben Fried Senator Chuck Schumer joined a coalition of labor unions and transportation advocates at Penn Station today to call for emergency federal funding for the nation’s transit systems. The rally made […]

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Dodd’s Livability Bill Earns Praise from Local Governments

By Noah Kazis | Jun 9, 2010 | No Comments

With financial reform nearly complete, the Senate Banking Committee turned its attention today to one of Senator Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) next priorities, the Livable Communities Act. Local government came out strong for the initiative to promote sustainable and integrated regional planning, with representatives of the nation’s cities, towns, counties, and regional planning organizations testifying in favor. Among committee members, […]

Federal Transit Aid Bill Could Prevent MTA Service Cuts

By Ben Fried | May 25, 2010 | No Comments

The $2 billion transit operating aid bill unveiled by Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd today could set the stage to stave off major MTA service cuts slated to take effect next month. Photo: cyclosity/Flickr If the bill becomes law and Congress appropriates the full $2 billion, about $275 million in operating aid would be distributed to […]

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