Tag: Obama: Page 2

Roadbuilding

Obama proposes 6-year, $478 billion highway bill; industry groups voice support

As part of his new, $3.99 trillion budget released Monday, President Barack Obama has proposed $478 billion to fund the country’s transportation and infrastructure work over the next six years. Instead of raising the federal gas tax, Obama’s proposal would be paid for with money generated by a one-time tax holiday for companies with overseas investments. […]

February 2, 2015

Business

Corporate tax code reforms have early bi-partisan support as method for funding long-term highway bill this year

After President Barack Obama made a brief mention of infrastructure funding in his State of the Union address last week, urging Congress to focus on that rather than the Keystone XL pipeline, Vice President Joe Biden has now made his own appeal to lawmakers to fund a long-term highway bill this year. According to a […]

January 26, 2015

Roadbuilding

Obama calls for ‘bipartisan infrastructure plan,’ doesn’t mention gas tax increase

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Obama called for Congress to pass a “bipartisan infrastructure plan.” However, Obama never mentioned the possibility of raising the federal gas tax. “21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure  —  modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet. Democrats and Republicans used […]

January 21, 2015

Business

Obama urges Congress to focus on improving infrastructure rather than Keystone XL in State of the Union

President Barack Obama in his sixth State of the Union address made little mention of issues related directly to construction and transportation, which has in years past come in the form of the president pushing Congress to do more to fund highways and other transportation infrastructure. Unlike recent years, however, the president only briefly addressed transportation infrastructure […]

January 21, 2015

Workforce

Obama unveils immigration reform shielding 5 million from deportation; challenges Congress to “pass a bill”

During a defiant speech from the East Room of the White House Thursday night, President Barack Obama unveiled sweeping immigration reforms that would shield nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation and make it easier for highly-skilled immigrants to work here. There are currently 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. and an estimated […]

November 21, 2014

Business

White House, transportation leaders push Congress to find a long-term highway funding solution sooner rather than later

The White House, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and several industry associations are urging Congress to find a highway funding solution before the primary source of money, the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), becomes insolvent. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) projects that insolvency to occur by the end of August. White House press secretary Josh Earnest […]

July 9, 2014

Business

If you don’t know how to build a house, how can you build a country?

Last week the New York Times ran a story lamenting the loss of quality and craftsmanship in houses built today. The author also linked that questionable observation (with cringe-worthy logic) to the declining quality of our infrastructure. It’s not a new complaint. But the ignorance of the writer and the editors on what constitutes a […]

July 2, 2014

Roadbuilding

Obama pushes for transportation funding during Key Bridge visit

During his visit to the Key Bridge in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, President Barack Obama urged Congress to quickly pass a highway bill to prevent Highway Trust Fund (HTF) insolvency, The Hill reports. The HTF is a major source of funding for state and local highway projects. However, money in the fund is projected to […]

July 1, 2014

Business

U.S. construction spending ticks up 0.1% in May despite dip in home building

Construction spending in the U.S. saw a slight increase in May and for the second straight month the gains are largely due to increases in government projects. Construction spending rose to $956.1 billion in April, an increase of 0.1 percent from the revised April figure of $955.1 billion. Due to the revision of that figure, what […]

July 1, 2014

Business

Senate committee approves bill to bypass Obama, clear the way for Keystone XL pipeline construction

A bill that would temporarily bypass President Barack Obama and approve construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline passed a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday receiving bipartisan support. The Energy and Natural Resources committee voted 12-10 Wednesday to approve the bill. All Republicans in the committee supported the bill and were joined by Democrats Joe Manchin of […]

June 19, 2014

Business

Obama signs water projects reauthorization bill into law

President Barack Obama signed the $12.3 billion Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) into law on Tuesday, marking the first water projects reauthorization in seven years. The House and Senate both passed the bill last month. Known as the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), the bill authorizes funding for water infrastructure projects. It […]

June 11, 2014

Roadbuilding

Obama signs into law first water bill in 7 years

President Barack Obama signed the $12.3 billion Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) into law on Tuesday, marking the first water projects reauthorization in seven years, Politico reports. The House and Senate both passed the bill last month. The legislation cuts $18 billion in projects deemed outdated by the Army Corps of Engineers and […]

June 10, 2014