Republicans

Energy, Carol Stream, IL

The Republican Energy and Climate Agenda

With many polls predicting a ‘red wave’ on Election Day, we take a look at the energy and climate agenda of the 118th Congress under Republican control.

November 6, 2022 - Politico

Aerial view of cylindrical silver oil tanks

Use or Misuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?

Rising gasoline prices prompted President Biden to announce on October 19 that he was authorizing the release of 15 million barrels of crude oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

November 3, 2022 - The Washington Post

Trump Sign

We Are (Sort of) Less Polarized Than in 2016

After moving toward Democrats for decades, central cities moved toward Republicans in 2020.

December 2, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

D.C. Metro

Republicans, Democrats, and Transit

Depending on how the issue is phrased, support for public transit can be bipartisan.

November 9, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Florida Retirement Community

The Stage for Trump's Racist Tweet: The Villages, Florida

The Villages is one of the strangest, and most significant, planning and development stories in recent memory—with surprisingly regular relevance in the media and numerous intersections to politics and culture.

July 13, 2020 - James Brasuell

Arch Rock Beach

Déjà Vu: Republican Legislators Flee From Capitol to Stall Climate Bill

Republican state lawmakers repeated a tactic they successfully deployed last summer to prevent the passage of a bill that would have made Oregon the second state, after California, to place a price on carbon emissions from most economic sectors.

March 2, 2020 - The Washington Post

Toll Road Truck

Nation's First Truck-Only Toll Program Off to Auspicious Start

After the Rhode Island General Assembly passed controversial legislation in February 2016 spearheaded by Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), the first two of what will be 13 truck-only toll gantries became operational on June 11. Results are looking good.

September 26, 2018 - Transport Topics

Miami

Where Republican Mayors Are Taking Leadership on Climate Change

(Even if they don't talk about it very much.)

June 1, 2018 - The Conversation

U.S. Census

Concerns About Census 2020, As Told by GIFs

Interested observers have been sounding the alarms about the federal government's readiness and commitment level for the 2020 Census.

May 8, 2018 - Vox

Toll Road

Dynamic Tolling Done Right—VDOT Shows the Way

Virginia's 66 Express Lanes feature uncapped tolls that change every six minutes with the level of congestion, with most revenue benefiting transit. Carpools travel free, but solo-drivers in electric vehicles pay like others.

January 3, 2018 - Business Insider

Gov. Jerry Brown's High-Speed Gamble

To secure needed votes to pass a vital cap-and-trade bill, Brown made a deal with California's Republican lawmakers that could cost him his legacy infrastructure project—the high-speed train from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

July 25, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Repeal of Gas Tax Increase Possible in California

After several years, Sen. Jim Beall's persistent efforts to address the state's $130 billion road and bridge shortfall finally passed the legislature, but Assemblyman Travis Allen hopes to repeal the 12-cent tax hike through the initiative process.

May 11, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee - Capitol Alert

California

California's Record Fuel Taxes Hike Passes Legislature in One Day

On April 6, the Senate and Assembly passed a comprehensive transportation funding package that it had been unable to do for years, thanks to much deal-making by Gov. Jerry Brown. The gas tax will increase by 12 cents per gallon on November 1.

April 9, 2017 - Planetizen

Endangered Species

A Warning About the Threat to the Endangered Species Act

The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board issues a strong critique of ongoing Republican efforts to gut the Endangered Species Act.

February 25, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Climate Change Protest

Republican Coalition Proposes a Carbon Tax to Fight Climate Change

Will a carbon tax have a better chance of success at the federal level if Republicans propose it? We're about to find out.

February 8, 2017 - The New York Times

Gas Station SUVs

Republicans Reveal an Anti-Urban, Anti-Public Transit Platform

The Grand Old Party platform calls for an end to using gas taxes for public transit as well as other non-road purposes like "bike-sharing," opposes increases to the 23-year-old gas tax, and would eliminate the U.S. DOT Livability Initiative.

July 21, 2016 - Progressive Railroading

When Regressive is Progressive

With the two Democrat candidates debating who is the real progressive, it would be interesting to see how they would respond, if asked, about President Obama's proposed $10-per-barrel fee to fund a 21st Century Clean Transportation System.

February 8, 2016 - The New York Times

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to Sign 7.3-cent Gas Tax Hike Today

After years of debate, Republicans from both chambers agreed to a transportation plan raising the gas tax 7.3-cents and registration fees by 20 percent, effective 2017. Democrats objected to the amount of general funds that will be directed to roads.

November 10, 2015 - MLive

Republican Party Logo

Republican Attacks Shifting Focus Toward Cities

By focusing their criticism on the federal government, argues Jonathan Chait, Republicans fail to address the real problem: over-regulation on the state and local level.

October 26, 2015 - New York Magazine

Op-Ed: Recent Fair Housing Decisions Could Boost Republicans

A New York Times op-ed predicts that recent changes to Fair Housing could prompt unintended consequences—such as new support for the Republican Party among middle class white populations.

July 16, 2015 - The New York Times

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