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April 14, 2008
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In this issue:
F E D E R A L
F E D E R A L
S T A T E
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Significant differences remain between the Senate and House versions of the bill, but lawmakers said agreement was near on a final package that could pass both chambers. Under this House agreement, new spending on agriculture programs would be limited to $6 billion beyond the $280 billion budgetary baseline for the bill. The House last Wednesday voted 400-11 to instruct conferees to oppose higher taxes to fund new Farm Bill spending. House Agriculture Committee ranking member Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said the additional $6 billion under the deal would not be offset by taxes. In recent weeks, lawmakers had whispered about another extension of current law to ensure that farmers, who are starting to plant their crops, would receive subsidies. The current 30-day extension (PL 110-196) expires April 18. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said last week that he would oppose any further extensions of the 2002 bill beyond an additional week. |
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Senate Holds a Hearing on Infrastructure The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a hearing on the condition of our nation's infrastructure and the National Infrastructure Bank Act (S. 1926). The bill, sponsored by Senators Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), proposes to establish a new, independent, public National Infrastructure Bank to evaluate and finance improvements to the nation's infrastructure. It would also have the ability to leverage private capital as a supplement to public funding. The hearing emphasized the potential of public-private partnerships as a means of closing the infrastructure-funding gap. On the House side, Speaker Pelosi announced that she would like to see the House take up legislation similar to the Dodd-Hagel bill. In a sign of the growing bipartisan interest in infrastructure issues, the House voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) recognizing the significance of the first national infrastructure plan and calling for a new national vision and plan for infrastructure. Earlier this month Blumenauer announced new legislation that would develop principles to guide investment in America's infrastructure. This legislation would enact a national infrastructure commission to build consensus at the local and federal levels for a new national plan that will carry our nation through the 21st century. It is unclear how soon the House could move on this type of legislation, but leaders in both chambers are looking to address infrastructure funding. |
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Washington State Enacts Climate Legislation Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire in March signed into law new legislation aimed at reducing climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The bill calls for reductions from the state's transportation sector — Washington's largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions — by cutting vehicle miles traveled by 18 percent by 2020, 30 percent by 2035, and 50 percent by 2050. The bill requires a state plan for meeting climate change goals. The state Department of Ecology will be called on to submit a comprehensive plan to the legislature, outlining specific measures to reach climate emission targets. Statewide targets adopted in 2007 require a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035, and 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The legislation also aims to promote "green collar" jobs in the state by directing state agencies to provide new training and incentives. The largest greenhouse gas emitters in the state will be required to inventory and report their emissions beginning in 2010. According to the Pew Center on Climate Change, Washington becomes one of 17 states to adopt a formal emissions standard and one of 15 to enact legislation aimed at vehicle-based greenhouse gas emissions. |