The Weekly Trek: December 18, 2015

21 Dec The Weekly Trek: December 18, 2015

Weekly Trek

December 18, 2015

Top Political News

• Congress passes budget deal and heads home for the year. Washington Post
• Fed raises key interest rate for first time in almost a decade. New York Times
• White House: Obama will give a ‘nontraditional’ State of the Union. The Hill
• Paul Ryan notches a big victory, but the true test may come next year. Washington Post
• Winners and losers in the omnibus spending bill. Government Executive
• The winners and losers of the GOP Vegas debate. Washington Post

Transportation

• Canadian Pacific sweetens offer to buy Norfolk Southern railroad with variable payment. US News
• A new terminal could more than double the number of oil trains traveling through the Columbia River Gorge. Willamette Week
• Omnibus bill drops longer-truck proposal. Progressive Railroading
• FAA begins drone registry Dec. 21. USA Today
• Oregon Leadership Summit: Path to transportation package still unclear. Oregonian
• Bypass skirmish continues. Newberg Graphic
• Leadership Summit: Electric vehicles hold billion-dollar savings potential for Oregon. Portland Biz Journal
• Did the Administration tip its hand on Open Skies? Travel Pulse

Energy & Natural Resources

• EPA avoids cuts, most riders in omnibus bill. BNA
• Deal leaves winners cheering, losers licking wounds. E&E Publishing
• Climate policy intact though agency funding stays flat. E&E Publishing
• World leaders agree to historic climate accord. The Hill
• More legal battles likely after mercury rule survives attack. E&E Publishing
• Nestle’s water torture. The Register-Guard
• Confronting climate change, rethinking the city. Thriving Cities

Labor

• Congress to delay ACA’s ‘Cadillac’ tax on pricey health plans until 2020. Washington Post
• Reid seeks parting gift for unions in sweeping tax deal. The Hill
• Employers applaud “Cadillac” tax delay but still seek repeal. ABC News

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• House approves $622B tax plan. The Hill
• Where are we going with the EB5 program and investor immigration to the United States? Forbes
• Congress includes $572.7B for DoD in spending bill. Defense News

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