GOVERNING: State government news on politics, management & financ en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Tue, 21 May 1:16:30 PDT Infrastructure Must Reads: U.S. Transportation Policymakers Ignore Driving's Decline http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-infrastructure-must-reads-federal-transportaion-policymakers-ignore-decline-driving.html Fri, 17 May 2:0:00 PDT News you should know about transportation and infrastructure. Senate Passes Online Sales Tax Bill; House to Decide Its Fate http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-online-tax-bill-passes.html Tue, 7 May 8:0:00 PDT It's the first time any version of the legislation, which state and local leaders have long fought for, has ever been approved by either chamber of Congress. What Anthony Foxx's Nomination Means for Transportation http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-what-anthony-foxxs-nomination-means-for-transportation.html Mon, 29 Apr 0:0:00 PDT The Charlotte mayor's nomination as DOT secretary is being viewed as an overture to the role of metro areas in transportation planning. What's the Back-Up Plan for Health Insurance Exchanges? http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-whats-the-back-up-plan-for-health-insurance-exchanges.html Thu, 25 Apr 13:0:00 PDT Nobody knows for sure, as critical deadlines approach. Just How Screwed is the Highway Trust Fund? http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-highway-trust-fund-future-jeopardy-infrastructure-transportation.html Wed, 24 Apr 14:0:00 PDT A new report from the Congressional Budget Office warns that Congress will have to dramatically cut transportation spending or raise the gas tax. Senate Could Pass Online Sales Tax Bill This Week http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-senate-could-pass-online-sales-tax-bill-this-week.html Tue, 23 Apr 12:30:00 PDT The legislation, which would allow states to collect sales taxes from Internet retailers, now has the White House's backing. Is Raising the Gas Tax Truly Politically Unpalatable? http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-gas-tax-increase-hike-politically-unpalatable.html Mon, 22 Apr 2:0:00 PDT It's conventional wisdom in Washington that voters won't support a gas tax hike or a vehicle miles traveled fee. A new study suggests that long-held belief is wrong. Which State, Local Grants Got Cut in Obama's 2014 Budget? http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-see-which-state-and-local-grants-got-cut-in-the-presidents-2014-budget.html Fri, 12 Apr 10:0:00 PDT The president's new budget proposal increases total federal grant funding to states and localities, but some programs are on the chopping block. Obama's Infrastructure Budget is Ambitious But Vague on Funding http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-obama-budget-amibitious-infrastructure-vague-funding.html Wed, 10 Apr 12:50:00 PDT The president's budget calls for ambitious infrastructure investments but -- yet again -- doesn't provide many details on how to pay for it. Whatever Happened to the Office of Urban Affairs? http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-federal-office-of-urban-affairs-still-exist.html Fri, 29 Mar 9:0:00 PDT Created four years ago, the federal office was supposed to engage cities and metro areas in all major policy decisions. Today, the Obama administration has “little to show for its efforts.”