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Weekly Trek: October 9, 2015

Weekly Trek

October 9, 2015

Top Political News

  • McCarthy shocks conference by dropping House speaker bid. Roll Call
  • Boehner making waves on his way to the exit. Politico
  • Anticipation builds for Biden. The Hill
  • Dems set sights on Senate majority. The Hill
  • Budget talks: The Harry and Mitch show. Politico

Transportation

  • Fog starts to clear around transportation funding strategy. Politico
  • Lawmakers under new pressure to find way to pay for highway programs. Wall Street Journal
  • WTO won’t weigh in to resolve international airline spat. Wall Street Journal
  • Railroad shutoff threats complicate train technology deadline. Roll Call
  • AAR counting down to PTC deadline decision. Progressive Railroading
  • Rail shutdown would cost $30 billion, study finds. The Hill
  • Greenbrier touts guidance win, nearly $5B in orders as it looks to reverse the market’s course. Portland Business Journal
  • Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration: Who Is Sarah Feinberg? AllGov

Energy & Natural Resources

  • Oil industry gaining in push for repeal of U.S. ban on petroleum exports. New York Times
  • Wyden: Next-generation cleantech tax incentives would curb carbon pollution. Portland Biz Journal
  • California wants renewable energy for half its power by 2030. Seattle Times

Labor

  • Teamsters’ pension fund warns 400,000 of cuts. New York Times
  • Large pension fund files plan to cut retiree benefits under new law. Washington Post
  • Federally funded infrastructure projects come with strict policies that don’t allow locals-first hiring. Here’s why cities should lead. City Lab
  • Love, hate And Washington hypocrisy on the Cadillac tax. Forbes

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

  • Deal reached on Pacific Rim trade pact in boost for Obama economic agenda. Washington Post
  • Some U.S. industries seen as winners in Pacific trade pact. Wall Street Journal
  • Cutting OCO may be solution for NDAA: Kendall. Breaking Defense
  • Senate moves defense policy bill one step closer to Obama’s veto pen. Defense One
  • New estimates of how many households pay no federal income tax. Tax Policy Center
  • Shutdown of U.S. Ex-Im Bank puts companies in a financing bind. Wall Street Journal
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