Shape of jobs creation bill unclear ahead of White House summit (The Hill)
Democrats have a slew of legislative proposals to pick from when they begin crafting a job creation bill in earnest this week.
Lawmakers, prompted into action by the double-digit unemployment rate, are considering business tax credits for new hires, state fiscal aid, extended unemployment […]
Project Safe Neighborhoods targets ‘gun-toting criminals’ (WRAL.com)
Project Safe Neighborhoods is cracking down on gun crime, gangs and repeat offenders in communities across eastern North Carolina, federal prosecutors and local law police officers touted at a press conference Monday.
The operation is a joint effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that started in the […]
Contractors Pessimistic on 2010 Prospects Unless Long-Term Bill Enacted (AASHTO Journal)
A report issued late last week emphasized that many transportation contractors have laid off employees this year and a lot more job cuts are likely to take place in 2010 unless Congress enacts a robust authorization bill for highways, bridges, transit, and safety projects. […]
Transportation Projects Strong Contender for Inclusion in Jobs Package (AASHTO Journal)
House and Senate Democrats have started crafting a package of legislation aimed at creating jobs. Both chambers are strongly considering including investment in transportation infrastructure as part of the package, which congressional leaders said could be enacted by early next year.
In the House […]
Boxer Asks for White House Help on Highway Extension Compromise (The New York Times)
With the ongoing congressional stalemate over the next highway bill beginning to take its toll on state road and transit projects, a key senator yesterday urged the Obama administration to step in and help broker a compromise.
Boxer’s comments came one day […]
NC jobless rate bumps up to 11 percent in October (AP)
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 11 percent in October, a fraction off its historic peak earlier this year and the ninth straight month in double digits, the state’s Employment Security Commission reported Friday.
The jobless rate continued to hover around 11 […]
Transit Use is Growing, But Not Where You Think (Planetizen)
United States Census Charlotte Commuting Detroit Features Metropolitan Areas Oil Prices Ridership Riverside Social /
Transit saw some big ridership increases over the past few years, but maybe not where you’d expect. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the top ten metropolitan areas where transit […]
Questions of tax fairness (News and Observer)
Generally speaking, folks don’t like taxes.
But North Carolinians seem divided on the question of tax fairness, according to a new poll by Elon University.
Almost half (48 percent) of North Carolina residents polled Nov. 16-19 say the current state tax system is either “not at all fair” or “not too […]
Taxes and Government and Community Services (Elon Poll)
The Elon Poll asked respondents their opinions on the fairness of the current tax system as the local and state levels, as well as their measurements of community services.
How fair is our current tax system at the state level?
Not at all fair: 21 percent
Not too fair: 27 percent
Fair: […]
Senate, House Face Off: Transportation Leaders Not on Same Page (The Bond Buyer)
WASHINGTON — Senate transportation leaders are in a standoff with their House counterparts over a six-month extension of the current transportation law, as states are experiencing a 30% reduction in their federal highway and bridge funding.
“We still don’t have the House side with […]
