FEMA to require states to pay into disaster assistance fund The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is considering the establishment of a financial obligation that states would be required to make before becoming eligible for public assistance after a disaster. In short, FEMA wants every state to invest in disaster mitigation. Public comments on the […]
An estimated 231 million travelers will take flight this summer on U.S. airlines alone – up 4 percent from last summer’s high of 222 million passengers. International flights will add about 30 million additional travelers. While exciting times may begin once passengers step off the planes, getting inside the airplanes to take off will require […]
Population growth is good for cities in so many ways. More jobs and economic vitality – public officials tend to love growth. But, there are detriments as well. With more citizens to serve, infrastructure and resources get stretched very quickly. There is rarely enough revenue to cover the need for increased resources and services. That […]
When the 50 State Project was undertaken two years ago by CQ Roll Call, the report producers took an unconventional approach to the project. Instead of surveying public officials and government executives regarding the most talked about issues facing states, they turned to the media to ask about the hottest legislative topics. The 2016 report […]
Traditional versus non-traditional spending, $5 billion versus $9 billion, earmarks versus no earmarks … the U.S. House and Senate are on a collision course over an infrastructure bill again. As always, projects are in danger and this time the projects and funding are wrapped up in opposing versions of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) […]
America’s infrastructure is crumbling – our roads, bridges, schools and water plants. While government officials are eager to address these growing needs, funding sources are scarce. There is an alternative solution to paying for infrastructure projects with funding other than local, state and federal allocations. But, according to a report released this week by the […]
The budget knife cut deep into proposed capital outlay projects in Louisiana this week. The House Ways and Means Committee either reduced or eliminated more than a quarter of a billion dollars’ worth of funding for proposed projects statewide as lawmakers continue to deal with a growing state budget deficit. These proposed capital outlay projects […]