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D’Amato Kicked Off Flight

January 10, 2017 at 11:22 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Sen. Al D’Amato (R-NY) “was escorted from a JetBlue flight Monday night after trying to lead passengers in a chant protesting seating changes requested by the crew,” the New York Post.

“D’Amato and other passengers who were already ‘super cranky’ about the six-and-a-half hour delay were even less enthusiastic when the flight crew asked people who paid extra for legroom to switch seats because of ‘weight and balance issues’… D’Amato, who was sitting toward the back of the plane — in a seat with sparse legroom — began chanting ‘make them move,’ which a smattering of fellow passengers took up, and marched up and down the aisle.”

Schumer Ready to Support Big Infrastructure Plan

December 21, 2016 at 7:56 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC News that he likes the sound of President-elect Trump’s proposal of a major infrastructure plan as long as it meets certain Democratic criteria.

Said Schumer: “We think it should be large. He’s mentioned a trillion dollars, I told him that sounded good to me.”

Trump Picks Chao for Transportation Secretary

November 29, 2016 at 11:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao is set to be announced as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Transportation, Politico reports.

Chao is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Ford Considered as Transportation Secretary

November 23, 2016 at 7:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) is emerging as a possible contender for transportation secretary, or another Cabinet post, in Donald Trump’s budding administration, Politico reports.

“The telegenic Ford — who served five terms in Congress representing Tennessee and is the son of a long-serving Democratic congressman from Memphis — has worked as a managing director at Morgan Stanley since 2011, and is a regular news analyst on MSNBC. Ford endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 race, and he and his wife, Emily, contributed to Clinton’s campaign. But Ford is also close with Trump’s children, Don Jr., Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, an associate said.”

However, the New York Times says consideration of Ford “has not yet become serious.”

Democrats May Work with Trump on Key Issues

November 17, 2016 at 7:02 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Congressional Democrats, divided and struggling for a path from the electoral wilderness, are constructing an agenda to align with many proposals of President-elect Donald Trump that put him at odds with his own party,” the New York Times reports.

“On infrastructure spending, child tax credits, paid maternity leave and dismantling trade agreements, Democrats are looking for ways they can work with Mr. Trump and force Republican leaders to choose between their new president and their small-government, free-market principles.”

Wall Street Journal: Trump team makes overtures to key Democrats

Trump Considering Creating an Infrastructure Bank

November 16, 2016 at 1:45 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A top economic adviser to President-elect Donald Trump said that the new administration was exploring the creation of an infrastructure bank, an idea that has received mixed support from Republicans in the past,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Trump transition official Steven Mnuchin, who is considered a candidate for treasury secretary, told reporters in New York that he and Mr. Trump had already discussed their proposed tax-code rewrite.”

Said Mnuchin: “I think the other thing—very big focus—is regulatory changes, looking at the creation of an infrastructure bank to fund infrastructure investments. We want to be in a position where in the first 100 days we can execute the economic plan.”

How Trump Can Get His First Legislative Win

November 10, 2016 at 7:16 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Playbook: “Remember we all said that a tax and infrastructure deal would’ve been a slam dunk for a President Hillary Clinton in the first days of her White House? Well, it’s not a bad idea for Trump, either. Trump, Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be, roughly, in the same ideological space in reforming the tax code. Trump is a former donor to and acquaintance of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the future Democratic leader who has worked with Ryan on tax reform. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants an infrastructure package — and has already said so. The infrastructure package actually spooks Republicans more than it spooks Democrats. This wouldn’t be easy, but could be a win in Trump’s first 100 days.”

Schumer and Ryan Discussing Infrastructure Deal

September 29, 2015 at 7:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is in talks with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) “to deliver a major infrastructure bill that’s eluded Congress for a decade,” Politico reports.

“The discussions to marry international tax reform with transportation investment are not close to yielding a deal yet and already face serious skepticism from Republicans and Democrats, for policy and political reasons. But Schumer and Ryan are forging ahead, meeting twice in the Capitol this month to advance a blueprint that Schumer floated this summer alongside Portman. The Schumer-Portman team-up is notable because the Ohio senator faces a tough reelection next year, one of several races that will determine whether Schumer becomes majority leader in 2017.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

February 19, 2015 at 9:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard 32 Comments

“Vice President Biden, in a very candid moment, which he enjoys, flew into LaGuardia and said, ‘You fly into LaGuardia, and you think you’re flying into a Third World country.’ Now, that was a slight overstatement, slightly insensitive, slightly insulting. But, basically true.”

— New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), quoted by the New York Observer.

Quote of the Day

February 7, 2014 at 7:29 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“If I blindfolded someone and took them at 2 o’clock in the morning into the airport in Hong Kong and said ‘where do you think you are?’ They would say, ‘this must be America. This is a modern airport.’ If I took them blindfolded and took them to LaGuardia airport in New York, he would like ‘I must be in some third world country.’ I’m not joking.”

— Vice President Joe Biden, quoted by CNN.

Foxx Will Be Next Transportation Secretary

April 28, 2013 at 4:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Obama will tap Charlotte, N.C., mayor Anthony Foxx as the new secretary of transportation on Monday, the Charlotte Observer reports.

“The choice is seen as part of an effort to boost the number of minorities in high-level positions on his Cabinet.”

Senate Moves to Fix Flight Delays

April 25, 2013 at 9:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Senate unanimously approved a patch to fix the deep cuts that have furloughed air traffic controllers and delayed flights across the country, NBC News reports.

“The House could take the bill up tomorrow and pass it with 2/3 support of that chamber. All of this was a last minute scramble to avert a crisis that was becoming more and more politically problematic by the day.”

Obama Considers Foxx for Transportation

March 20, 2013 at 3:03 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Obama is considering appointing Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (D) for secretary of transportation, Bloomberg reports.

“Obama also is considering Deborah Hersman, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board, for the position… The president is considering candidates from within the transportation department as well.”