government
Senate bill would boost business with tax break on equipment, property
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., introduced legislation to amend the U.S. tax code and make permanent a 50 percent depreciation bonus on new equipment and property purchases. The tax break previously expired. According to a press release, the bill would allow… Keep Reading
Metric provides another reason for long-term funding solution
A Federal Highway Administration report (FHWA) provides new leverage for the passage of a long-term highway bill. In its latest monthly “Traffic Volume Trends” report, which was released near the end of June, FHWA says Americans have driven a record… Keep Reading
Federal funding pitfall prompts states to increase gas taxes
Six states will increase their gas taxes July 1 as a means to replace lacking federal funds for highway projects, according to the Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). The Hill reports that… Keep Reading
Multiyear highway bill emerges
The Senate introduced a six-year, $275 billion bill to fund the federal government's highway program. The bill, called the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, appropriates nearly $43 billion per year for transportation spending, The… Keep Reading
Congress explores highway funding sources in hearings
Both chambers of Congress explored sources to fund a surface transportation bill during hearings on Capitol Hill, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) reports. The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the long-term financing of… Keep Reading
Gas tax hike unlikely, says House Majority Leader
Don't expect a gas tax increase anytime soon. That's what House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarty (R-Calif.) tells the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive interview. “We make policy in the world of politics," McCarty says. "If you thought, “Well,… Keep Reading
House Speaker’s comments point to short-term highway bill
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated Congress would likely have to pass a short-term highway bill, according to the Wall Street Journal. “There’s a conversation going on between Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate, over how to deal with the… Keep Reading
What was Michigan thinking?
Many states, tired of waiting for the federal government to properly fund highway infrastructure, are taking matters into their own hands. And a few are failing miserably. Last summer it was Missouri, where the state’s voters soundly defeated a proposed… Keep Reading
MSHA publishes latest stats on fatal accidents
Ten mining deaths occurred during the first quarter of 2015, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) reports. Six of fatal accidents occurred in metal and nonmetal mining, while the other four occurred in coal mining. According to MSHA, two… Keep Reading
