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February 3, 2017

The Weekly Trek

February 3, 2017

Top Political News

  • U.S. economy adds 227,000 jobs in January, but wage growth lags. Washington Post
  • Trump Has Provocative Words for Allies. Congress Does Damage Control. New York Times
  • A fractured U.S. Senate awaits Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Washington Post
  • What Trump’s Supreme Court pick means for the court. Politico
  • Trump to McConnell: Go nuclear if necessary. The Hill
  • Trump agenda off to slow start in Congress. The Hill
  • The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics. Politico

Transportation

  • Trump transportation secretary pick Elaine Chao confirmed in Senate, with some top Democrats balking. Washington Post
  • House begins quest for funding for Trump’s infrastructure plan, but is it ‘same rhetoric’ as always? Washington Post
  • Study: Urban areas more likely to benefit under Trump-style infrastructure plan. The Hill
  • How Smart Transportation Projects Can Help Solve Social Issues. Gov Tech
  • Trump’s travel order could make it difficult for Americans who travel abroad, survey finds. Washington Post
  • Short-line tax credit bill reintroduced in Congress. Progressive Railroading
  • Analysis: Oregon governments need $1.3 billion more each year for transportation work. The Register-Guard
  • Assessing the Future of Autonomous Vehicles, Connected Infrastructusre Under President Trump. GovTech
  • As Gas-Tax Profits Decline, More States May Turn to Tolls. Governing
  • Lawmakers begin whittling down $5 billion transportation wish list. Oregonian
  • Legislature told to target transportation to get Oregon on course to meet failing emissions goals. Portland Business Journal

Energy & Natural Resources

  • Republicans Try a New Tack on Climate Change. New York Times
  • Executive order likely delayed until Pruitt’s confirmation. E&E News
  • GOP suspends rules to push through EPA pick despite Dem boycott. The Hill
  • Hill vows vigilance with research in the crosshairs. E&E News
  • Trump team scouting for energy, enviro slots. E&E News
  • Lawmaker withdraws bill to sell 70,000 acres of Oregon public land. Statesman Journal
  • Trump’s EPA Moves Create Uncertainty For Future Of Northwest Environmental Work. Oregon Public Broadcasting

Labor

  • Trump to Order Dodd-Frank Review, Halt Obama Fiduciary Rule. Bloomberg
  • Skilled Workers Are Scarce in Tight Labor Market. Wall Street Journal
  • One of the Most Important Union Fights in Years Is Happening in South Carolina Right Now. VICE
  • Trump’s Blue-Collar Populism Is Dividing Unions. Bloomberg
  • U.S. Factory Activity Accelerated to Fastest Pace in More Than Two Years. Wall Street Journal
  • Can Labor Fight Back? American Prospect

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

  • Trump Says He Wants to ‘Kick-Start’ Nafta Negotiations. Wall Street Journal
  • One Tiny Widget’s Dizzying Journey Shows Just How Critical Nafta Has Become. Bloomberg
  • Retailers join forces and dig in for a fight on import tax proposal. Washington Post
  • Exporters Tout Benefits of Republicans’ ‘Border Adjustment’ Proposal. Wall Street Journal
  • Trump signs executive order calling for rollback of Wall Street regulations. Washington Post
  • Four Hurdles That Could Block Republicans’ Tax-Cut Ambitions. Bloomberg
  • An Easy Trade Win for Trump. New York Times
  • Trump’s Hard Line on Trade Puts Fed in a Bind. Bloomberg
  • Talk of NAFTA repeal raises big questions. Portland Tribune
  • Here’s what’s on the line in Oregon in Trump’s Mexican trade standoff. Portland Business Journal

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