HARRISBURG, Pa. — Congress is expected to vote on the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda, which includes creating clean energy jobs to tackle the climate crisis. Leaders of small and large businesses, in Pennsylvania and beyond, are asking representatives to vote in favor of the plan. A letter from the American Sustainable Business Council […]

Paul Goldman remembers the first time he spoke to Tim Kaine about a way to rehabilitate Virginia’s old school buildings with private money by expanding the use of federal and state historic tax credits. It was 2005, after Kaine, then lieutenant governor, had been elected governor. “He said, ‘If you need any help, let me […]

Because we believe that transparency breeds accountability, we frequently use this space to challenge those in power to communicate honestly and directly with the citizens who pay their salaries. If we’re going to chastise those who fail to operate in full view of the public, we owe it to our readers to be straight with […]

This summer, two separate century-old water mains ruptured in Philadelphia, sending thousands of gallons of water into streets and homes, and creating massive sinkholes and property damage. Philadelphians were reminded of another recent massive water main break in 2018, which closed off a major restaurant district on Sansom Street for more than a year and cost $1.7 […]

WASHINGTON — In advance of a House Ways and Means Committee markup on the budget reconciliation package, U.S. Representatives Dwight Evans (D-3rd Dist.) and Nikema Williams (D- Ga.) are introducing a $1 billion tax credit bill that would advance environmental justice using tax credits for research and other academic programs. The legislation would: • Provide […]

The U.S. Congressman who represents Pittsburgh — a city that’s lost half of its low-cost rental units in the last two decades — is calling on the Senate to match the hundreds of billions of dollars for affordable housing that’s included in the House’s budget reconciliation bill. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said the bill […]

A petition for monthly stimulus checks of $2,000 has drawn nearly 2.9 million supporters, as the highly virulent Delta variant continues to drive up COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations across the U.S. But while online petitions for cash payments continue to gain traction, that support isn’t translating to pressure on members of Congress. The Change.org […]

State officials are talking up the prospect of new passenger train lines and expanded service across the state, citing billions of dollars in expected economic benefits. But their vision could remain just that, unless they can scrape together enough state and federal funds to cover the new services. And while congressional Democrats are calling for […]

Beginning July 15, families across Philadelphia started receiving up to $300 per child in monthly payments thanks to the newly expanded child tax credit. Some congressional Democrats are now pushing to expand the tax credit through 2025. We should be making it permanent. Working families across our city have been able to use this extra […]

A Depression-era environmental work relief program may make a revival after a nearly 80-year hiatus. Last week, three members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation — U.S. Reps. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), Susan Wild (D-Lehigh), and Conor Lamb (D-Mt. Lebanon), introduced the “Restore Environmental Economy and Improve Volatile Economy by the Civilian Conservation Corps Act of 2021,” or […]