Graves sparks bridge debate Oct 23, 2009
James Oberstar, the chairman for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Oberstar is pushing it, and he s from Minnesota, Graves said. (Cameron Observer, MO)
Rick Holmes: Where is the stimulus money going? Oct 20, 2009
James Oberstar thinks so. The Minnesota Democrat, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, wrote state officials to say that, with just $99 million in stimulus highway projects under way as of Aug. 31, Massachusetts ranked 49th in the nation in how much of its federal allocation had found its way to job sites. (Wakefield Daily Item, MA)
Obama mulls new stimulus package Oct 6, 2009
Representative James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has proposed a six-year $US500 billion highway and transit bill. Most of the measure is financed through federal gasoline taxes, which haven't been raised since 1993. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Congress raps agency for approving shipping waivers for hazardous materials Sep 11, 2009
The agency s culture appears plagued by a belief that it should make things as easy as possible for the industry that it should be regulating, Representative James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat and the committee s chairman, said at a hearing. It s clear this agency s relationship with the industry it regulates needs to be completely overhauled, Oberstar said. (Boston Globe)
WHIP COUNT: DEMS LACK THE VOTES... Sep 10, 2009
" http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=17tionID=116eID=63041.214 Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY): But I Will Not Vote For A Bill That Gets It Wrong, And If I Had To Vote Today For The Current Piece Of Legislation In Front Of Congress, I Would Not Be Able To Support It.U.S. Rep. Eric Massa said if he had to vote today on America's Affordable Health Care Choices Act, he would probably vote against it. We all know that one in six don't have health insurance. We all know that we pay more... (The Drudge Report)
Open Forum: LID helped clean up Crow Wing Lake Aug 22, 2009
James Oberstar inquiring as to the schedule of his town meetings August. The key point of his response was "Given the size of my district and my inability to hold enough public meetings to satisfy the demand, I believe the best way for constituents to provide essential input on health care is to write directly to me." Does anyone seriously believe that. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch)
Democrats Show Strain of Heated Battles... Aug 3, 2009
James Oberstar and other Democrats, meanwhile, have sharply criticized an administration move to postpone a roughly $500 billion transportation bill. Looking ahead to the fall session, dissatisfaction is growing as campaign promises give way to the nitty-gritty of legislating. (The Drudge Report)
Congress owes states highway dollars9:14 am | (No comments posted.) Jul 28, 2009
James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, has instead proposed a new formula, covering 775 pages of legislation, that would significantly restructure how funding is distributed. He is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. (Watertown Public Opinion, SD)
Obama needs billions for highways Jun 26, 2009
The situation is not as clear in the House, where James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is pressing lawmakers to approve a six-year, $500 billion bill he has crafted that would fundamentally reshape transportation programs with a greater emphasis on mass transit and getting people out of their cars by providing more transportation options. Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, and 42 other Democratic members of the House committee said in a letter to Obama... (MSNBC -- Politics)
LaHood, Oberstar Collide on Highway Bill Jun 19, 2009
James Oberstar, chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, plans to unveil a six-year, $500 billion bill to overhaul transportation programs on Thursday. He wants Congress to pass the bill by Oct. 1, which is when the current law that authorizes transportation programs expires. (Newsmax)
House Dem: Obama Oversold Road Stimulus May 12, 2009
James Oberstar, who leads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says the White House shouldn't have billed road money as the signature component of the stimulus, or as a surefire boost to needy communities. Spokesman Jim Berard says Washington is limited in how it can tell states where to spend the money. (Newsmax)
Atkinson: Infrastructure Bank No Quick Fix May 8, 2009
Speaking to Reuters on Monday, the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar said the bank would not be established and operational for some time to come. The Minnesota Democrat said he will draft the blueprint for the next half decade of federal surface transportation spending without including the bank, which some have likened to a Federal Reserve for capital projects. (Newsmax)
Stimulus weatherization aid favors cold regions May 8, 2009
James Oberstar, D-Minn. "But when it's 20 or 30 below and your heat goes out, you die.". (USA Today -- Weather)
Nation not ready for mileage-based tax May 5, 2009
If House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar has his way, the nation will switch from a federal gasoline tax to a mileage-based tax within the next couple of years. The Minnesota Democrat sees no reason for further study or any more state pilot programs to test the idea. (Longview Daily News, WA)
AP: Congress, Interest Groups Gear Up for Highway Bill Apr 28, 2009
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar completely missed a news conference on innovative transit programs Thursday because his car was stuck in traffic, behind an accident in a congested commuter tunnel. The Minnesota Democrat has another news conference scheduled Friday with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, who estimate Congress needs to spend $470 billion to get the nation's transportation system back on track. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Local delegation hopes to cash in for major projects Apr 19, 2009
James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, also plans to sit down with local delegates on Tuesday. Oberstar chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, charged with writing a bill that would authorize an estimated 450 billion for highways, bridges, transit, rail and road safety projects nationwide through 2014. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Obama Mum on 300% French Cheese Tax Mar 11, 2009
Democratic Representative James Oberstar wrote Obama on February 2, urging him to take steps against "this mean-spirited and unproductive punitive duty" as part of a campaign "to reestablish America's moral authority in the world.". Oberstar, who hails from Minnesota, was taking aim at a measure imposed in the final days of George W. Bush's presidency as part of a package of duties in retaliation for a European ban on US beef containing hormones. (Newsmax)
