The Ferguson Group Blog

Obama Administration Releases Grow America Act Transportation Bill

Yesterday, the Obama Administration released the Grow America Act proposal to finance and fund transportation infrastructure projects. The administration’s proposal is the first one out of the gate - both Houses of Congress are working on legislation that is expected to be released in the coming weeks. The collective goal (we hope) is to have a signed transportation bill before MAP-1 expires at the end of September. 

The Grow America Act proposal includes several new elements that may make it through the legislative sausage making process.  The proposal codifies the TIGER program and eliminates project minimums.  It includes a new FAST program for transportation projects (based on Race to the Top) with a $50 million pay-out.  It also includes a new Rapid Growth Area Transit competitive grant program and allows use of TIFIA fees for small projects.

If you are interested in reading the full text of the bill, click here for a link to the proposed legislation and here for a section-by-section review from the Administration.

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Shared Cities: Building the Infrastructure for a Collaborative Economy

The “Shared Cities” movement is reimagining ways to efficiency and safety facilitate the dispersion of community assets like housing, transportation, and workspaces. The concern, however, is that these new shared economies are growing at a faster pace than some local governments can regulate. Read More…

An Earth Day Challenge for Energy Efficiency

The Georgetown University Energy Prize is challenging small- to medium-size communities across the country to implement creative strategies to increase energy efficiency. The challenge requires local governments, residents, and utilities to work together to reduce energy consumptions, and it’s not just good for the earth. The winning community will be awarded $5 million to implement energy efficiency projects. Read More…

Most U.S. States See Budget Balances Improve in 2014, S&P Says

According to Standard & Poor’s, more than half of U.S. states have larger 2014 general-fund balances than anticipated at the start of 2014 because of the strengthening economy. S&P warns not to get too comfortable with the news, however, given potential market volatility.  Read More…

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Michigan Ban on College Affirmative Action 

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved Michigan law banning the use of racial preferences in state university admissions. Despite the majority approval, the sole dissenting opinion from the court called the decision a blow to “historically marginalized groups, which rely on the federal courts to protect their constitutional rights.” Read More…

A Path Out of Prisons for Low-Level, Nonviolent Drug Offenders

The Obama Administration announced Wednesday that federal inmates serving long sentences for drug offenses will be eligible for expedited clemency if they meet six major criteria. Read More…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Shared Cities: Building the Infrastructure for a Collaborative Economy

The “Shared Cities” movement is reimagining ways to efficiently and safely facilitate the dispersion of community assets like housing, transportation, and workspaces. The concern, however, is that these new shared economies are growing at a faster pace than some local governments can regulate. Read More…

An Earth Day Challenge for Energy Efficiency

The Georgetown University Energy Prize is challenging small- to medium-sized communities across the country to implement creative strategies to increase energy efficiency. The challenge requires local governments, residents, and utilities to work together to reduce energy consumption, and it’s not just good for the earth. The winning community will be awarded $5 million to implement energy efficiency projects. Read More…

Most U.S. States See Budget Balances Improve in 2014, S&P Says

According to Standard & Poor’s, more than half of U.S. states have larger 2014 general-fund balances than anticipated at the start of 2014 because of the strengthening economy. S&P warns not to get too comfortable with the news, however, given potential market volatility.  Read More…

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Michigan Ban on College Affirmative Action

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved Michigan law banning the use of racial preferences in state university admissions. Despite the majority approval, the sole dissenting opinion from the court called the decision a blow to “historically marginalized groups, which rely on the federal courts to protect their constitutional rights.” Read More…

A Path Out of Prisons for Low-Level, Nonviolent Drug Offenders

The Obama Administration announced Wednesday that federal inmates serving long sentences for drug offenses will be eligible for expedited clemency if they meet six major criteria. Learn More…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Silicon Valley Startup Seeks to Repair U.S. Politics

Napster co-founder Sean Parker is looking to combat a lack of political engagement and interest across America with his new startup Brigade Media, LLC. Brigade believes that American democracy is not scaling properly to keep pace with societal changes, and believes that applying a digital solution will help voters stay informed and choose leaders.  Read More…

Tight Job Market in U.S. Cities Prompts Higher Pay

Metropolitan areas are experiencing very low jobless rates, which is good, unless you are a company trying to hire. Spot labor shortages across the country are prompting companies to boost salaries and benefits to attract workers. “It’s an employee’s market,” one company owner from Texas said. Read More…

Obama to Announce $600 Million U.S. Job-Training Initiative

On Wednesday, the President will announce the launch of a $600 million Department of Labor initiative for job training programs developed by local governments, colleges, and employers. The plan is part of the President’s effort to use his own authority to direct money to critical programs in the absence of Congressional consensus. Read More…

Congressional Inaction on Road Funding Hits the States

Tennessee and Arkansas are two states that have already begun to scale back transportation projects due to uncertainty whether or not Congress will pass a transportation reauthorization bill before funds run dry this summer. Other states are pondering similar approaches as the reauthorization deadline nears.  Read More…

Survey Ranks Where Residents Are Most Satisfied with their Communities

A recent Gallup-Healthways survey found that 85 percent of Americans are satisfied with the city or area where they live. The survey ranks 189 metro areas across the country from most satisfied residents to least satisfied residents. Where does your area rank? Read More…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!  - See more at: http://thefergusongroup.typepad.com/grants/#sthash.knkQuHEC.dpuf

Water Utility Turns to DR and Efficiency to Save $500 Million Annually

Honeywell has embarked on a first-of-its-kind project with East Valley Water District (EVWD), California that uses a ten-year, $4 million energy performance contract for an energy efficiency and OpenADR demand response project that is expected to deliver more than $500,000 in annual savings. When water utilities are strapped for cash to make necessary upgrades, energy efficiency solutions like this can make a big difference on utility and consumer costs.  Read More…

Food Safety Rule Threatens Cows’ ‘Happy Hour’

A proposed FDA rule that aims to ensure the safety of animal feed and pet food includes new requirements that could make the practice of sending left-over grains from beer and whiskey production to farmers to help feed dairy cow and beef cattle cost-prohibitive by making the breweries test and package the grains before sending to farmers. Opponents of the rule argue that the costs associated with testing and packaging the grains would make dumping the grains into a landfill cheaper than giving them to farmers to feed their livestock. This would not only cost the farmers and breweries, but those costs would be passed along to consumers, opposers contest.  Read More…

Why do Cash-Strapped Governments Have Rich Citizens?

While wealth in rural communities is on the rise, rural local governments are finding it difficult to get their hands on some of that cash. While still operating on barebones budgets, governments are struggling to pay for the services their economies require.  Read More…

A New Way for Schools to Pay for Technology

The nearly two-decade old E-Rate Program is about to undergo a major overhaul that could end subsidies for pagers and cell phones in favor of broadband wireless infrastructure. The FCC wants reform, but how exactly reform will happen is subject to Congressional debate.  Read More…

States, Lawmakers Want Feds to Use New Math for FEMA Calculations

Washington, Illinois faced total devastation when a tornado swept through the city last year, completely destroying nearly 600 homes. As Illinois Senator’s Dick Durban and Mark Kirk express, most would think destruction like this would meet disaster assistance guidelines set by FEMA, but it did not even come close. They are advocating for a new FEMA disaster assistance calculation that is not based on a state’s population so communities in populous states like Washington can get the funds they need to rebuild.  Read More…

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!  - See more at: http://thefergusongroup.typepad.com/grants/#sthash.knkQuHEC.dpuf

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!  - See more at: http://thefergusongroup.typepad.com/grants/#sthash.knkQuHEC.dpuf

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup! 

Wyden Sets Vote Reviving Lapsed Tax Breaks Through 2015

New Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden just released his final tax proposal Tuesday, and wasting no time, has already scheduled a Committee vote on the measure April 3.  Wyden’s proposal would save the U.S. government $67 billion over the next decade. Although Wyden is confident in his tax package, he is determined to make this bill the last extenders bill while he is Chairman; hoping Congress can work to create a “21^st-century tax code.”  Read More…

Harry Reid Moves Up Paycheck Fairness Vote

In order to coordinate with nation Equal Pay Day, Senator Harry Reid pushed up a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, pushing back a vote on raising the minimum wage. The Paycheck Fairness Act would require the Department of Labor to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, as well as create grant programs that provide negotiating skills training to women. Read More…

Study Ranks Metro Areas by Spraw

A new report released by the University of Utah and Smart Growth America finds the benefits of avoiding sprawl could translate to higher economic mobility. The report also ranks U.S. metro areas by how compact and connected they are, linking development policies to higher life expectancy and better chances of upward mobility for residents. Who ranked #1? New York City, of course; if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.  Read More…

Paul Ryan Releases House GOP Budget Plan

On Tuesday, Budget Committee Chairman released the House budget plan for fiscal year 2015. The plan would cut spending by $5.1 trillion over the next decade to achieve balance by 2024. It sounds good, but even House Republicans know the plan isn’t exactly a viable option. Read More…

Unemployment Extension Bill Advances Narrowly in Senate

Today the Senate voted to limit debate on the unemployment extension package by a close vote of 61-38; needing 60 votes. Six Republicans joined Democrats to meet the 60-vote procedural threshold; however, the majority of Republicans are less than thrilled about not being able to present amendments, to say the least. Read More…