The Weekly Trek: January 15, 2016

19 Jan The Weekly Trek: January 15, 2016

Weekly Trek

January 15, 2016

Top Political News

• Obama touts economy, knocks rivals in final SOTU address. The Hill
• Obama, GOP Congress near end of long, ugly relationship. Politico
• McConnell vows ‘major effort’ on budget. The Hill
• Winners and losers from the sixth Republican presidential debate. Washington Post
• Poll: Donald Trump Widens His Lead in Republican Presidential Race. Wall Street Journal

Transportation

• U.S. proposes spending $4 billion on self-driving cars. New York Times
• House Dems want states to test gas tax alternatives. The Hill
• Google exec says delivery by drone possible within a few years. Bloomberg
• You may be powerless to stop a drone from hovering over your own yard. Washington Post
• Railroads expected to get back on track in 2016. U.S. News & World Report
• How GM beat Tesla to the first true mass-market electric car. Wired
• Automakers go electric, even if gas is cheap. New York Times
• AAR’s Hamberger unveils industry’s 2016 priorities. Progressive Railroading
• Bypass intersection controversy reaches Board of Commissioners. Newberg Graphic
• NTSB’s ‘Most Wanted List’ stresses PTC, transit-rail safety. NTSB

Energy & Natural Resources

• Bid to mine more coal on U.S. federal lands tests Obama’s green agenda. Reuters
• The little-known reason renewable prices are dropping. Climate Progress
• States say Clean Power Plan targets achievable despite critiques of proposal. BNA

Labor

• SCOTUS looks at labor unions. Unions are worried. Here’s why. Washington Post
• Mandatory union dues in trouble after Supreme Court arguments. Forbes
• Unions work to retain, add members ahead of possible Supreme Court loss. Wall Street Journal
• Unions tell federal panel TPP deal will shed U.S. jobs. Bloomberg BNA
• Ruling opens door to much wider OSHA authority. Business Insurance
• Strong unions, strong democracy. New York Times

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• Business groups plunge into new Ex-Im struggle. The Hill
• 2016: Congress must turn tax reform talk into tax reform action. The Hill
• A progressive way to end corporate taxes. New York Times

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