Downsizing Blog
Highways: Devolution Revolution Needed
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich paves the way for sound thinking on highways in his new Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Infrastructure Lovefest Bad for Taxpayers
The initial details of the $2 trillion infrastructure agreement between President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders seem to spell bad news for taxpayers.
$2 trillion: The Infrastructure Answer To What Question?
Media reports suggest President Trump and Democrat leaders have agreed in principle to a $2 trillion infrastructure plan “to upgrade the nation’s highways, railroads, bridges and broadband.”
Transit’s Growing Costs Drive Away Low-Income Commuters
The Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey revealed that, for the first time, the median income of transit commuters has risen above the median income of all American workers.
Why Is U.S. Government Infrastructure So Costly?
Tracy Gordon of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center writes interesting columns on taxes, fiscal federalism, and other economic issues. Before Congress and the administration enact another costly infrastructure bill, they should consider what Gordon wrote in a 2015 article.
Reporters Accept Illogical Gas Tax Narrative
Here is the framing of countless news articles on infrastructure: the streets have potholes; the federal gas tax has not been increased since 1993; experts are quite sure we need a federal hike; the states have increased their own gas taxes; only misguided fears of a public backlash stand in the way.
Pearl Harbor Profligacy
A damaging divide in democracy is between the profusive promises of politicians and the pathetic performances of bureaucracies.
Federal Gas Tax Increase Not Needed
President Trump’s new budget proposes to increase federal spending on infrastructure by $200 billion over 10 years.
Private Satellite Firm Aids Boeing 737 Investigation
Canada privatized its air traffic control (ATC) system in 1996. Today, Nav Canada is on the leading edge of ATC innovation worldwide.
Subsidizing Passenger Rail Makes Little Sense
A Wall Street Journal article on an upgrade to a Midwest rail line illustrates the shortcomings of pumping tax dollars into passenger rail.