Latest news with #InfrastructureandJobsAct
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
State lawmakers prepare a war chest for Colorado to battle the federal government
After a flood of executive orders, mass firings, funding freezes and trade war -- all in less than three months -- some state lawmakers are setting up a contingency fund in preparation for the next round of whirlwind changes from the Trump administration. A newly introduced bill would create a $4 million fund in the governor's office to fight "adverse federal action". Ironically, the money to fight the feds is coming from federal dollars the state received from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act. "We are moving fast to make sure we are prepared," Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie (D-Col) told CBS Colorado. She's sponsoring the bill with state Congresswoman Shannon Bird (D-Col). While it's in response to actions already taken by the Trump administration, McCluskie says it isn't about party politics but federal overreach. "All of us should be all in in protecting money Coloradans sent to the federal government and we now want back for the programming that's so important," McCluskie said. Federal dollars made up nearly 40% of Colorado's budget last year that included funding for education, transportation and health care. The Trump administration froze more a half billion dollars to the state in January. While court rulings restored much of the funding, Gov. Jared Polis's office says $69.5 million in federal public safety grants remain frozen. McCluskie worries the administration will try to claw back or block more federal dollars allocated for Colorado. "This is the way that we protect Coloradans' money -- dollars that have gone to feds that should be coming back to us through these important programs," McCluskie said. "Safety net, education environmental programming, we want these dollars back here to protect the state we love and the people that need these funds." Colorado is among the states that pays more in federal taxes than we receive in federal funding. The bill allows the governor to use the $4 million for congressional inquiries and hearings, investigations and lawsuits, legal counsel and contractors, and other expenditures that lawmakers say preserve and protect state sovereignty. "I was asked by one member why haven't we had this fund before, and should we have it ongoing? Maybe we should," McCluskie said. "This isn't about being Republican or Democrat. This is a vote for Colorado." McCluskie says the money will also help defend state employees who may be sued for enforcing state laws or policies that conflict with federal laws and policies. A statement released by the office of Gov. Jared Polis said, "The Trump administration is trying to claw back and withhold funding it legally owes and was directed by Congress to provide to Colorado. This includes bipartisan funding for health care access and public safety. The state is working to safeguard Colorado from adverse federal actions that are being taken every day, and the legal and policy environment remains very fluid. We have seen a significant increase in workload to support Colorado's efforts to safeguard funds and the state's rights, including administrative and legal needs. We believe that to properly defend the free state of Colorado from unlawful and adverse actions taken against the state, protect Coloradans and state employees, and generally prepare for the uncertain federal environment ahead, it's critical to ensure we have adequate resources to meet the moment."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trucking bottlenecks cost U.S. billions — and a Nashville freeway is one of the worst
Americans are paying dearly for traffic congestion along U.S. highways — to the tune of a record-high $108.8 billion nationally — and one Nashville interchange landed in the top five on a list of the worst trucking bottlenecks in the country. That's according to the American Transportation Research Institute, a nonprofit focused on the trucking industry's role in a safe and efficient transportation system. Last week, the institute released its annual report of the nation's top 100 truck bottlenecks for 2025, compiled using a database of freight truck GPS data. 'Delays inflicted on truckers by congestion are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,' the institute's president and chief operating officer, Rebecca Brewster, said in a news release announcing the report. 'These metrics are getting worse, but the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo.' In the same release, the president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, Chris Spear, said these bottlenecks 'choke our supply chains' and add almost $109 billion annually to the cost of transporting goods — on top of impacting the quality of life for other motorists who rely on the national highway system for their daily commute. In Tennessee, former President Joe Biden's Infrastructure and Jobs Act provided a few billion dollars of investment in highway infrastructure after its passage in 2021, but the state's unmet need for the five-year period between June 2023 and June 2028 has ballooned to nearly $38.5 billion according to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. The combined Interstate 24/40 heading east in Nashville where it meets I-440 lands at fifth on that list, up five spots from 2024. According to the institute, trucks travel along that roadway at an average speed of just 38.1 miles per hour and 27.2 miles per hour on average during peak traffic. That's not the only Nashville roadway to make the list. The next highest at 16th is where I-40 and I-65, heading east, converge on the west side of downtown. The split of I-65 and I-24 several miles north of downtown clocks in at 53rd. Those Nashville roadways are part of a list of seven truck bottlenecks throughout Tennessee that cracked the top 100. Four other highway interchanges, two each in Chattanooga and Knoxville, made the list between the 28th and 68th spots. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville has one of worst truck bottlenecks in the U.S. See where
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Over $300 million in federal funds frozen in Washington State amidst political battle
Right now, state agencies in Washington State are under direction to analyze what federal funding streams are inaccessible to them and create a plan on how to supplement that funding or how to move forward without it. So far, KIRO 7 News has tracked more than $300 million in programs and projects that have been frozen, inaccessible, or otherwise unable to be spent, ranging from wildfire programs to improving all of the State's seaports. Congressional offices, state agencies, and organizations tell KIRO 7 News the situation is constantly evolving as many groups only find out that funding is inaccessible when they go to draw out money. The Washington Department of Natural Resources say around $100 million of federal funding for wildfire response, reimbursment, prevention, and grants for local departments to buy equipment has been halted. Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray's office reports a $54.2 million grant to expand the Port of Tacoma has been frozen, in addition to $100 million that has been granted to the Ports of Vancouver, Bellingham, Anacortes, Port Angeles, and Seattle for 'clean port' improvements was also inaccessible. WSDOT reports $102.2 million has been frozen for hydrogen fueling and EV chargers across the state. The Washington Department of Commerce says its access to funding for the Solar for All program has been frozen as well, though it isn't clear at this time how much funding is held up. 'These stories are popping up all across the country,' said Rep. Adam Smith, 'It is a naked power grab that is challenging our constitution quite frankly.' Smith, a Democrat representing the ninth district containing Renton, Federal Way, Kent and other communities, points to Congress' power of the purse. Much, if not all of the funding, was allocated by the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, huge spending laws that were passed during the Biden White House. 'Congress approved the spending. It's illegal to stop now.' 'Even after the Court ruled you couldn't stop it, it was like a week ago for domestic programs, they've still stopped it. They are ignoring a court ruling.' Smith said. The issue with frozen and inaccessible funding represents the few options Democrats have in stopping the Trump White House, and lately Elon Musk in the Department of Government Efficiency, from running roughshod with their agenda. For example, one strategy has been legal challenges to executive orders and other actions. Attorneys General for 19 states announced Friday they are suing the Trump Administration over Musk's access to Treasury Department data that contain social security numbers, bank accounts, and other sensitive data of Americans. Smith said there was hesitation, though, in picking that fight. 'It seems like Donald Trump and Elon Musk really want to do is. They want to get to the point where they can make decisions unchallenged,' Smith said. '[Trump] gave Elon Musk this power to go in and look at this information,' Smith said, 'Is that per se illegal? Now, what Elon Musk is going to to wind up doing with that information could certainly be illegal, but Donald Trump is President, he picked Elon Musk and said, go look at this. So is it illegal? I don't know. It is horrifying.' Two other strategies Democrats have are messaging and trying to convince their Republican allies. Smith sees the freezing of USAID and the attempted firing (that was blocked) of thousands of USAID workers as a good example. USAID is part of what is known as American 'Soft Power' that builds relationships with other nations through aid, grants, and other finances that help foster relationships with the United States. Smith says he's trying to appeal to Republicans that this limiting aid, limits the nation's influence and allies. 'I hope the United States of America hasn't become the type of country where, 'Screw you, if it's in my best interest, I'm not going to live up to the commitment I made.' We made commitments. People are going to starve to death because we're breaking those contracts and commitments.' Smith said. 'It pushes [nations] towards Russia and China and the reason that's a problem is because China and Russia want to use their autocratic power to froce their way of looking at the world on other people and that will eventually undermine our markets.' he continued.
