The midterm elections are (finally) over. With the Republicans taking over the House of Representatives next year and the Democrats keeping control of the Senate, albeit by a smaller margin, the question is what, if anything, will get accomplished in the 112th Congress? Overall, the chance for passage of major legislative initiatives in areas such … Continue Reading
In Washington, all attention right now is on the rapidly approaching midterm congressional elections and the efforts by Democrats to retain their majorities in both houses of Congress. However, regardless of whether Democrats lose control of the House of Representatives or Senate, members of Congress are expected to return to Washington on November 15th to … Continue Reading
The Public Policy and Infrastructure Practice continues to monitor the changes in the campaign finance world since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Citizens United reverses decades of statutory and case law that prohibit corporations from using their general treasuries to fund independent political advertising supporting or opposing candidates … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Larry Demase, Jennifer Smokelin, and David Wagner. In the weeks that have passed since our previous article on climate change activity in Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency, it has become evident that Washington is more likely to see a snowstorm this summer than congressional passage of a cap-and-trade measure … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Larry Demase. Summary The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has increased the chances that Congress will send energy-related legislation to the President’s desk before the midterm congressional elections in November. We note that last year the House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate H.R. 2454, the … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Henry King. Overview The Department of Energy (“DOE”) has announced the availability of more than $171 million in grants, cooperative agreements, and technology-investment agreements “to expand and accelerate the development, commercialization, and use of solar and water power technologies throughout the United States”. This funding continues a strong emphasis in … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Jonathan Benner and Matt Thomas. The Department of Transportation has announced the availability of $600 million in grants for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure for projects that “will have a significant impact on the Nation; a metropolitan area; or a region” (Docket No. DOT-OST-2010-0076). This program is a continuation … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Jim Burns. This week, President Obama signed into law a $17.6 billion jobs creation package passed by Congress, H.R. 2847, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (“HIRE Act”). This legislation includes incentives for businesses to hire the unemployed; extension of infrastructure programs affecting surface transportation, energy, and school construction projects; … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Michael Bleier, Peter Blasier, and Perry Napolitano. The next few weeks are make-or-break for the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats as they consider separate and often competing proposals on the regulation of financial institutions. The House of Representatives last year passed its own version of legislation, H.R. 4173, the “Wall … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Joelle Laszlo. As we previously noted, the Supreme Court has ushered in a new dawn on corporate political spending in its recent decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. ____ 2010. This decision reverses decades of statutory and case law that prohibits corporations from using their … Continue Reading
Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking decision that impacts the political activity of every corporate entity. In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. ____ 2010, the Court held that restrictions on corporate spending in political campaigns, whether directed to a candidate or to an issue, violated the First Amendment’s protection … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Lou Naugle and David Wagner. Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) outlined what it terms a “rigorous accountability framework” for addressing pollution levels in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. This is the latest in a series of federal efforts to address levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in … Continue Reading
