In a move that ostensibly aims to accelerate America’s infrastructure development, the Trump administration’s decision to increase the TIFIA loan cap from 33% to 49% is fundamentally misguided. At first glance, the policy appears as a pragmatic way to leverage borrowing capacity, yet a closer examination reveals that this approach undermines fiscal responsibility and long-term
Politics
Oregon’s recent legislative session has painfully demonstrated the high human and infrastructural costs of political inaction. As lawmakers failed to pass a crucial transportation package before adjourning, hundreds of dedicated transportation workers now face imminent layoffs. These layoffs are not mere administrative inconveniences; they threaten to destabilize countless communities, cripple economic growth, and erode public
Oklahoma’s recent Supreme Court decision underscores a fundamental clash between state sovereignty and tribal autonomy—a conflict that challenges the very fabric of how federal, state, and tribal jurisdictions interact. By ruling that a tribal member’s residence and employment on a reservation do not automatically entitle them to state income tax exemptions, the court essentially signals
Oregon’s recent legislative move to impose a special tax on athletes in an effort to fund a $1.8 billion stadium at Zidell Yards reveals a concerning overconfidence in securing a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. Governor Tina Kotek’s endorsement of Senate Bill 110, which introduces an $800 million bond plan financed by taxing home and
Kansas lawmakers’ rush to extend the deadline for their bond program to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from Missouri reveals a dangerously misplaced priority: subsidizing billion-dollar sports projects with taxpayer-backed debt. While the stadium proponents frame this as a visionary economic development effort, the reality is that these public financing schemes rely heavily
The looming budget bill in Congress has sparked contentious debates among Senate Republicans, who are scrambling to shield rural hospitals from devastating Medicaid cuts. To the untrained eye, it may seem purely a fiscal matter; however, the implications extend beyond numbers on a ledger, touching the very fabric of society in rural America. For the
When delving into the intricate realm of budget reconciliation, one must confront the Byrd Rule—a stipulation that transcends party lines and political affiliations. Seemingly arcane, this rule adds layers of complication that can derail even the most meticulously crafted legislation. Originally introduced by Senator Robert Byrd in 1985, the Byrd Rule restricts extraneous provisions in
Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist and rising politician in New York, has seized the spotlight with a staggering proposal to eliminate the city’s affordable housing crisis. Running second in the Democratic mayoral primary, his vision involves an audacious plan to inject an additional $70 billion into the city’s housing sector over the next decade.
The recent passage of House Bill 2025 by the Oregon state House legislative committee is a glaring example of government overreach cloaked in the guise of infrastructure improvement. The proposed $14.6 billion tax increase over the next decade is not just a minor fiscal adjustment; it’s a massive financial burden that threatens to destabilize the
In a political landscape often clouded by sensationalism and extreme partisanship, one might hope for a touch of rationality. As former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers suggests, Donald Trump’s impending selection for the next chair of the Federal Reserve could defy expectations. Contrary to the president’s recent tirades against Jerome Powell, whom he blames for a