Weekly Trek: August 7, 2015

Weekly Trek

August 7, 2015

Top Political News

• Economy adds 215,000 jobs in July, but not enough to dip unemployment rate. WashPost
• Five fights waiting for Congress this fall. The Hill
• GOP Eyes Audacious Escape Plan from Policy Gridlock This Fall. Roll Call
• Trump roils first debate among GOP contenders. WashPost

Transportation

• As Congress stares down another looming highway cliff, an old idea is getting some new attention: Raising the gas tax. Politico
• Tom Carper (D-Del.) is introducing legislation that would nearly double the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gas tax to help pay for road and transit projects around the nation. The Hill
• A new congressional report released Thursday took aim at the airline industry for failing to adequately disclose extra fees and add-on costs charged to the flying public. Senate Commerce Report
• S., Citing Militant Threat, Toughens Requirements in Visa Waiver Program. NYT
• The docket for public comment on the debate over Open Skies Agreements closed this week, but the real fight is yet to come. TravelPulse
• What do Americans think about public transit? A review of U.S. public opinion polling survey questions. MINETA
• Feds approve 1,000 applications for drone flights. The Hill
• So Congress wants to get serious about highways? Two insiders offer a game plan. Politico
• Congress should look beyond the gas tax. New York Times
• The nation’s worst and most dangerous roads, according to Google. WashPost
• TIGER demand again outpaces available funds; demonstrating need for greater investment. DOT

Energy & Natural Resources

• In the strongest action ever taken in the United States to combat climate change, President Obama announced Monday a set of environmental regulations devised to sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s power plants and ultimately transform America’s electricity industry. NYT
• Impact of EPA’s Emissions Rule on Industry to Vary. Wall Street Journal
• How Obama’s Clean Power Plan actually works: a step-by-step guide. Vox
• How the next president could expand Obama’s climate policies — or dismantle them. Vox
• Wildfires decimate U.S. Forest Service budget. USA Today
• Dry days bring ferocious start to fire season. New York Times

Labor

• Yet Another On-Demand Service, Sprig, Switches Its Independent Contractors To Employees. Forbes

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• 16 Budget Myths to Watch Out for in the 2016 Campaign. Report from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Fix the Debt.
• Boeing, GE cut off donations to Ex-Im foes. Politico
• Businesses fume as Congress lets Export-Import Bank stay dead. Politico
• A How-To Guide to Comprehensive Tax Reform. Forbes
• Obama administration actions this recess could shift winds on defense bill. WashPost