Dan Vock
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immigration, politics, transportation, state government, state politics
Helping you understand how government works—or doesn’t. Freelancing. Illinoisan in D.C. Reach me at dcvock at gmail dot com
Articles by Dan Vock
The lasting impact of losing candidates
Thanks for reading D.C. Vock! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Welcome to the D.C. Vock newsletter, a mix of news and analysis from a very versatile Washington-based reporter. Please share this with friends and social media if you find it compelling, and subscribe if you haven’t already.My goal is to get 500 subscribers for this newsletter. And if you’re an editor in need of a freelance or full-time politics and policy reporter, well, let’s talk.
Massachusetts voters to consider ditching high school graduation requirements
It’s not often that voters get to weigh in on the standardized tests that have become a mainstay of American public schools this century, but Massachusetts residents will get that chance in this November’s elections. Specifically, they will decide whether passing the standardized tests should be a graduation requirement for high school students.
Biden administration doles out $4.2 billion for big-ticket infrastructure projects
Boston’s transit agency will receive $472 million from the federal government to replace a century-old rail bridge, as part of $4.2 billion for 44 major infrastructure improvements announced by the Biden administration Monday. Other projects that received awards include replacing a two-mile bridge in the Florida Keys, untangling a busy intersection in Arizona, electrifying port equipment in Miami and replacing a highway bridge that collapsed in Providence, Rhode Island.
Biden administration doles out $4.2 billion for big-ticket infrastructure projects
Boston’s transit agency will receive $472 million from the federal government to replace a century-old rail bridge, as part of $4.2 billion for 44 major infrastructure improvements announced by the Biden administration Monday. Other projects that received awards include replacing a two-mile bridge in the Florida Keys, untangling a busy intersection in Arizona, electrifying port equipment in Miami, and replacing a highway bridge that collapsed in Providence, Rhode Island.
Going into 2025, cities plan for leaner budgets
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. Subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. A new report from the National League of Cities shows that city officials are preparing for a tougher budget situation, despite many indicators that local governments are in good financial health. Nearly two-thirds of city finance officials surveyed by the group last year said they were in better shape going into 2024 than they had been entering 2023.
Virginia goes all in on passenger rail
Virginia officials broke ground Tuesday on a project to bring a new rail bridge into Washington, D.C., a major milestone for a state that’s been trying to connect all of its regions to passenger rail, even if it means buying or building the tracks itself. The $2.3 billion project would double the number of train tracks crossing the Potomac River from two to four, alleviating a major chokepoint for freight and passenger rail traveling along the East Coast.
Weeks before the election, and some states still don't know who's allowed to vote
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. Subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. The ground has shifted considerably since the last presidential election in 2020, when it comes to rules for who can vote, how they can vote and how their ballots will be counted. But even with Election Day just a few weeks away—and people already sending in mail-in ballots and early voting sites opening in some states—those rules are still in flux.
The numbers are in: Trump boosted roads. Biden backs biking and walkers.
Federal transportation grants can give local governments a big boost in getting needed projects off the drawing board. But the kinds of projects that the federal government picks for that extra money can vary significantly from one presidential administration to the next, according to new research.
Ohio voters will once again weigh in on redistricting reform
The last time Ohio voters changed the way new districts were supposed to be drawn for state legislative seats, the Republican officials in charge of the process ignored the reforms they’d approved. In fact, GOP officials in 2022 disobeyed five orders from the state Supreme Court to produce fair maps as mandated by voters in 2015.
Election-year politics color hurricane recovery efforts
A week after the storm struck the Southeast, power outages and impassable roads are hampering recovery efforts—and so are election-year politics. With the presidential election just a month away, there was a lot more finger-pointing and less camaraderie on display than has been typical during past natural disasters. Several prominent Republicans, most notably former President Donald Trump, accused the Biden administration and Democratic officials of mismanaging key parts of the recovery process.
Election-year politics colors hurricane recovery efforts
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. Subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. A week after the storm struck the Southeast, power outages and impassable roads are hampering recovery efforts—and so are election-year politics. With the presidential election just a month away, there was a lot more finger-pointing and less camaraderie on display than has been typical during past natural disasters.
Move over! Two map apps to notify drivers when state police are stopped ahead
The state police in Illinois are launching new tech tools that they hope will help drivers steer clear of troopers working along the side of the road, Gov. JB Pritzker announced this week. The Illinois State Police will be one of the first agencies in the country to provide real-time information to Waze and Google Maps to alert drivers to roadside personnel. They launched the partnership as a way to reduce the number of “move over” crashes, which injured 60 and killed two troopers since 2019.
Democrats cast doubt on whether the ‘Montana Miracle’ is making housing affordable
When it comes to making housing more affordable in his suddenly high-priced state, the cornerstone of Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s record has been the “Montana Miracle.” The so-called miracle is a package of bills state lawmakers passed with bipartisan support in 2023 that drastically rewrote zoning laws across the state.
US disaster relief funding is running dry as Helene roars through
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. Subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. Even before Hurricane Helene pummeled Florida’s Gulf Coast and much of the Southeast this week, the federal government’s ability to help with long-term disaster recovery efforts was already in trouble. And Congress left town this week without fixing the problem.
Prosecutors say New York City Mayor Eric Adams' corruption went global
The indictment Thursday of New York Mayor Eric Adams on five bribery and fraud charges drew attention nationwide. Not only is Adams the first sitting mayor of the country’s largest city to face corruption charges, but the nature of the alleged scheme is itself extraordinary. The federal inquiries into Adams’ circle have impacted an unusually wide swath of the mayor’s administration.
California AG says ExxonMobil misled public on plastic recycling
California’s attorney general sued ExxonMobil this week, claiming that the oil- and plastic-producing giant has been pushing a “myth” for decades that plastic is easily recycled, so that it could make and sell more plastic products. Only about 5% of plastic waste in the U.S. is recycled, and that rate has never been greater than 9%, according to the California attorney general’s office.
Mayors rally to support Springfield amid 'unprecedented' situation
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** Former President Donald Trump’s false rumors about Haitian immigrants have upended everyday life in Springfield, Ohio.
A record-breaking number of Native Americans are running for state and local office
Updated: 10:25 a.m. Eastern time, Sept. 23, 2024 Angel Charley first recognized the profound impact that state government had on Native people, like herself, doing advocacy work in New Mexico on the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women.
TSA proposes softer rollout of Real ID enforcement
The federal government is set to roll back—yet again—the date by which people must have specially verified driver’s licenses before boarding an airplane or conducting other business with the feds. But in some ways, the Transportation Security Administration had little choice, faced with the fact that after two decades of prodding and tough talk, only 56% of driver’s licenses in circulation adhere to Real ID standards.
Politics or planning? The reason some states are slow to roll out EV charging stations varies
One promise of President Joe Biden’s signature infrastructure law was to create a nationwide network of electric vehicle chargers, so that motorists traveling across the country wouldn’t have to worry about finding a place to refuel. Congress left the job of building that network to the states. Now, nearly three years later, when EVs have emerged as a political point of contention, the states are in vastly different places in preparing that network.
This governor is about to become mayor
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** In Delaware, the governor is about to become a mayor. That’s right, two-term Delaware Gov. John Carney won the Democratic primary on Tuesday to become mayor of Wilmington, the state’s biggest city.
TSA proposes softer rollout of Real ID enforcement Original
The federal government is set to roll back—yet again—the date by which people must have specially verified driver’s licenses before boarding an airplane or conducting other business with the feds. But in some ways, the Transportation Security Administration had little choice, faced with the fact that after two decades of prodding and tough talk, only 56% of driver’s licenses in circulation adhere to Real ID standards.
TSA proposes a softer rollout of Real ID enforcement
The federal government is set to roll back—yet again—the date by which people must have specially verified driver’s licenses before boarding an airplane or conducting other business with the feds. But in some ways, the Transportation Security Administration had little choice, faced with the fact that after two decades of prodding and tough talk, only 56% of driver’s licenses in circulation adhere to Real ID standards.
Neighboring governors knock California plan to lower gas prices
California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week ran into another obstacle to his plan for lowering the state’s gas prices: the governors of two neighboring states. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat like Newsom, and Nevada Gov. Joseph Lombardo, a Republican, sent the California governor a letter Tuesday protesting proposed rules that would require refineries to stockpile extra gasoline to prevent price spikes caused by shortages.
Inside the tricky politics of special legislative sessions
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** Lawmakers in a handful of states have been unexpectedly busy despite—or, let’s face it, because of—an election looming in two months.
Hundreds of cities get federal help to make streets safer
With road deaths still stubbornly high following the pandemic, the Biden administration announced Thursday more than $1 billion in funding to help make the nation's streets safer. The grants to local governments will help fund 354 safety projects around the country.
Bus agencies are turning to California for their 'tap to pay' fare systems
For years, California transit executive Carl Sedoryk searched for a way to make fare collection easier on the roughly 130 buses that transported passengers in Monterey, Salinas and surrounding areas just south of the Bay Area. But none of the solutions he encountered fit the needs of the relatively small transit agency that he headed. His agency used a “closed loop” card, which customers bought and loaded with money for future fares.
Hundreds of cities get federal help to make streets safer
With road deaths still stubbornly high following the pandemic, the Biden administration announced Thursday more than $1 billion in funding to help make the nation's streets safer. The grants to local governments will help fund 354 safety projects around the country.
State dam safety programs could get new look after summer storms
Supercharged summer storms unleashed a deluge of rain in many Midwestern states this year, pushing several aging dams past their capacity as floods tore away embankments, inundated subdivisions and carried sediment that had built up for decades downstream. In the southern Illinois town of Nashville, six inches of rain fell in just a few hours in mid-July. The deluge pushed water from a city reservoir over the top of a 90-year-old dam, prompting evacuations of 200 nearby homes and businesses.
Half a billion dollars in grants awarded to boost the EV charging network
California will get $102 million to build a hydrogen- and electric-vehicle charging network along the West Coast, while eight Native American tribes and dozens of local governments secured federal grants to build EV charging stations, the Biden administration announced Tuesday. All told, the Federal Highway Administration announced $521 million in grants to 29 states to bring electric charging ports to largely underserved areas.
Half a billion dollars in grants awarded to boost EV charging network
California will get $102 million to build a hydrogen- and electric-vehicle charging network along the West Coast, while eight Native American tribes and dozens of local governments secured federal grants to build EV charging stations, the Biden administration announced Tuesday. All told, the Federal Highway Administration announced $521 million in grants to 29 states to bring electric charging ports to largely underserved areas.
Supreme Court deals Arizona Republicans a partial victory in voting case
The U.S. Supreme Court again weighed in on an election-related controversy in a key swing state last week, handing Arizona Republicans a victory that could make it harder for thousands of people to register to vote. The dispute centers on a law that Arizona Republicans passed in 2022 meant to require new voters to prove their citizenship in order to register to vote. The law had never taken effect because lower courts said it conflicted with federal law and blocked it.
Passing the torch, Los Angeles begins sprint to host 2028 Olympics
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** Los Angeles’ time on the clock as the next host of the Summer Olympics started in dramatic fashion last weekend, during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This commuter rail agency just went electric
A California commuter rail agency just started replacing its diesel trains with electric ones along a 51-mile stretch between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, in a move that is expected to immediately make the trip faster and easier for customers while paving the way for high-speed rail in the future. Gov.
Congress could ease rules for small cities seeking transportation money, experts say
One of the many changes that the 2021 federal infrastructure law made to transportation policy was giving local governments more opportunities to apply directly for federal grants, rather than depending on their state government.
Nearly half of all lieutenant governors are women. Could the future of the governor's office be female?
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** We start in Minnesota, where the prospect of the state having its first woman in the governor’s office has suddenly become very real. If Minnesota Lt. Gov.
Biden administration lays groundwork for future bridge projects
The Biden administration is continuing to build on its efforts to improve the country’s bridges, with the announcement this week of $26 million in planning grants for projects in 18 states. “The planning grants announced today will help states and communities prepare critical bridge projects for restoration or replacement before they fall into a state of disrepair,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt in a statement.
5 things you should know about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Until just a few weeks ago, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had a limited national profile, especially compared to other Democratic governors. But Tuesday morning, the Midwesterner emerged from a lightning-quick vetting process as the Democratic nominee for vice president in the November elections. “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked Tim Walz to be my running mate,” wrote Vice President Kamala Harris on social media.
Justice Department sues freight railroad to improve Amtrak service
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Norfolk Southern railroad this week for causing frequent delays of Amtrak trains, in the latest example of the Biden administration pressing freight carriers to better accommodate passenger service. The lawsuit is the first time since 1979 that the U.S. government has taken a freight railroad to court for flouting a federal law that gives Amtrak trains priority over freight trains.
Illegal border crossings have cooled, but the rhetoric is heating up
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** Rhetoric over illegal crossings continues to heat up, even though the number of people caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has declined in recent months.
Justice Department sues freight railroad to improve Amtrak service
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Norfolk Southern railroad this week for causing frequent delays of Amtrak trains, in the latest example of the Biden administration pressing freight carriers to better accommodate passenger service. The lawsuit is the first time since 1979 that the U.S. government has taken a freight railroad to court for flouting a federal law that gives Amtrak trains priority over freight trains.
Trump, Harris offer starkly different paths on transportation policy
Whoever sits in the White House come January will have a profound impact on the country’s transportation policy, even if that’s not the top issue on the campaign trail these days. Infrastructure was a central theme in the last two presidential elections. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump promised a $550 billion—later raised to $1 trillion—infrastructure package, after his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, proposed a $275 billion initiative. But as president, Trump was unable to secure a deal.
Trump, Harris offer starkly different paths on transportation policy
Whoever sits in the White House come January will have a profound impact on the country’s transportation policy, even if that’s not the top issue on the campaign trail these days. Infrastructure was a central theme in the last two presidential elections. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump promised a $550 billion—later raised to $1 trillion—infrastructure package, after his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, proposed a $275 billion initiative. But as president, Trump was unable to secure a deal.
Western cities won the right to clear homeless encampments-but will they use it?
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday pushing cities to remove homeless encampments following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision clearing the way for such actions.
Rules for out-of-town governors could cause headaches for potential VP pick
A relic of horse-and-buggy days in state constitutions is still causing havoc, hampering disaster relief efforts, inviting political chicanery and possibly even affecting Vice President Kamala Harris’ choice of a running mate in the upcoming presidential election. Quinn Yeargain, a Michigan State University law professor who studies state constitutions, found that half of the states have rules in their charters that strip governors of their power as soon as they leave their home state.
New anti-immigration laws' real focus is the U.S. Supreme Court, report says
New anti-immigration laws in Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas that make it a state crime to be in the country illegally have all been put on hold. But their real purpose might be to get the U.S. Supreme Court to give states more power to handle immigration-related policies, a new report says.
Georgia’s Medicaid work requirements have brought high costs, low enrollment
You're reading Route Fifty's State and Local Roundup. To get the week’s news to use from around the country, you can subscribe here to get this update in your inbox every Saturday. In the meantime, be sure to read to the end as we've rounded up headlines from the week. *** A year ago this month, Georgia launched its own Medicaid expansion mandating work requirements for new enrollees. Called Pathways to Coverage, the program has delivered underwhelming results.
Major federal bridge grants jump-start long-stalled projects
More than a dozen large bridge projects secured federal funding Wednesday, including long-planned connections in Portland, Oregon; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Mobile, Alabama; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Biden administration announced the $5 billion in grants funded under the 2021 infrastructure law, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other federal officials planning to visit the selected sites over the coming weeks.
Major federal bridge grants jump-start long-stalled projects, including I-83 in Harrisburg
Skip to Content The must-read daily newsletter for PA's political community. Get it in your inbox. email By Dan Vock More than a dozen large bridge projects secured federal funding Wednesday, including long-planned connections in Portland, Oregon; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Mobile, Alabama; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Major federal bridge grants jump-start long-stalled projects
More than a dozen large bridge projects secured federal funding Wednesday, including long-planned connections in Portland, Oregon; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Mobile, Alabama; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Biden administration announced the $5 billion in grants funded under the 2021 infrastructure law, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other federal officials planning to visit the selected sites over the coming weeks.
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