Nate Walton

Posting a copy of a letter that I wrote to President Biden urging support paying employees affected by the Port of Baltimore closure, and treating them to the same level of support as aviation employees during the Pandemic. Statement of Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel on Letter to President Biden on Suggested Relief for Impacted Workers and Companies Due to the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse Posted April 23, 2024 Today, I sent a letter to President Biden thanking him for his quick response to the tragic Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. https://lnkd.in/erBwAsGH During the pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly referred to as the CARES Act. Section 4112 of that legislation authorized and provided funding to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to make payments to workforces devastated by the massive economic swings during the pandemic. In particular, passenger air carriers, cargo air carriers, and certain contractors benefitted from the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries, and benefits this statute provided. Collectively and over the course of the pandemic, in excess of $66 billion dollars was provided to the aviation industry between 2020 to 2022. In the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, there are local companies and workers suffering from an economic upheaval. The CARES Act can serve as a model for providing relief to impacted workers and industries. The maritime industry never stopped working during the pandemic. While other service industries, such as aviation, were forced to stay home during the height of the pandemic, it was maritime and intermodal services that kept delivering what turned out to be record setting cargo volumes. Now members of the maritime industry and community need relief. Thousands of employees in the Baltimore region are directly or indirectly reliant on the port for their livelihood. We should support them in their period of need to the same level as we did other transportation workers during the pandemic.

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This is a Great piece from New Hampshire Public Radio regarding what I believe to be the biggest challenge to the energy transition right now: the process of connecting to the grid. https://lnkd.in/gER3QN6Q We've reached the point in the energy transition where what's needed now is not to throw more subsidies around, but focused attention on removing unnecessary barriers. Just look at the distribution grid interconnection queue from Eversource. Nearly 500MW of <5MW new solar plants are queued up trying to get built! https://lnkd.in/gFEJBixH Enough community scale generation is queued up to more than double the amount of distributed solar in the Granite State. We could get that built *very* quickly, if we had a policy stance that was pro-building-stuff. And there's even more coming down the pike at true "utility scale" which you can clearly see in the ISO New England Inc. interconnection queue. https://lnkd.in/grRW7Yvm Now, it's my hobby horse that none of this will truly be resolved until we reinvent the utility business model. I was told by a former utility professional that I deeply respect that under cost-of-service ratemaking, interconnection studies and upgrades are essentially a "non-profit wing" of the utility business. It's completely understandable that they will never take this challenge truly seriously until they have a reason to do so. Fortunately, there is a solution! It's time to move towards Performance Based Ratemaking. The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) put out an excellent paper on the subject last fall. Everyone in energy policy should read it and ingest its takeaways! https://lnkd.in/gWK8SfZn

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If you're looking for something to read tomorrow to mark the birthday of American democracy, check out this piece I wrote on the gravest threat it has faced since the Civil War: Project 2025 https://lnkd.in/e24igN_h

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🚧 Re: congestion pricing. A public authority's independence is critical when stewarding trillions of dollars in transportation assets. Yesterday, our MTA Chair Janno Lieber spoke about the MTA's actions regarding our obligation and duty to our 6 million riders. He said, "We aren't giving up on congestion pricing." This is exactly the message I was hoping for. It has been a difficult week, but there is also a sense of resolve. He focused on three items: 1) Reviewing the capital plan in a world where $15 billion no longer exists; 2) Evaluating how congestion pricing will impact operations if there is a decision to issue transportation revenue bonds; and 3) Ensuring MTA continues to meet our obligations under New York State law to implement congestion pricing. Many people have asked me if the MTA can proceed with the congestion pricing program without the necessary approvals. As I understand it, we cannot toll federal-aid highways without state and federal approval for a specific tolling pilot program (VPPP). During my time working on congestion pricing in 2018, I learned that using toll revenues from federal-aid highways to subsidize mass transit violates federal statutes. It shouldn't surprise you that even in the fight for the creation of the MTA, Robert Moses was against using TBTA toll revenues to subsidize transit, the very thing that has kept our transit system alive for the past five decades or so. It is a proud tradition that I have voted each year on the board to transfer TBTA toll revenue of close to $2 billion to support our subways and bus system. It's time to revisit how we continue to use old transportation technology (automobiles and highways) to stifle innovation and prioritize concrete v people. If you're at all interested in U.S. highway law--check out 23 U.S. Code, Section 129. #congestionpricing #fixourtransit #climatecrisis #trafficmitigation

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New on StreetsblogMASS: The Commonwealth's #climate laws require MassDOT to effectively eliminate tailpipe pollution from its roads and highways by 2050. But the agency's new long-range plan for 2050 neglects to make any mention of that law, or the agency's responsibilities in meeting its pollution reduction mandates. #mapoli https://lnkd.in/gcMxTu-Z

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Appropriations.com: House Approps Chairman #Cole released a #MarkupSchedule for #FY2025 bills and interim #SubcommitteeAllocations calling for 6% overall cuts to nondefense spending with 10-11% cuts to programs in #LaborHHSEd, #FinancialServices, and #StateForeignOps, and limiting #Defense increases to 1%, less than inflation. Notably, he rejected any "side deals" to augment the tight spending limits set by the #FiscalResponsibilityAct. See Approps.com for continuing details.

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How can you support economic development in the Lehigh Valley? We've compiled this listicle as part of the #ecdevweek celebration with the International Economic Development Council this week. https://ow.ly/TKb550RypSX

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Joined C-Span this morning to talk independent candidates and voters, the impact that each may have in the 2024 elections, and the technology and community the team at Good Party is building to make it possible for alternatives to the two party system to run, win and serve this year and into the future. Checkout the full interview here! https://lnkd.in/ev_uJ9rH"

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We are pleased to have released, "Voting Rights of the Formerly Incarcerated: Knowledge, Outreach, and Data Patterns of Qualified Electors in Pennsylvania," as directed by House Resolution 47 of 2023. The report examines when and how persons involved in the criminal justice system lose their right to vote and how those rights can be restored. In general, only a felony conviction can cause one to lose voting rights in Pennsylvania, and the disenfranchisement is automatically revoked upon completion of the sentence of incarceration. Commission staff organized and analyzed over nine million voter registration records covering the past 20 years and cross-referenced them to two decades of records for over 235,000 individuals released from Pennsylvania's correctional institutions. Four recommendations are included: 1. Codify the felony disenfranchisement judicial opinion. Current statutes had been found unconstitutional. 2. Improve access to voting materials for inmates of county and local jails. 3. Require non-governmental organizations providing reentry services to include voting rights education. 4. Add notice of voting rights to criminal court proceedings. The full report can be found on our website: http://jsg.legis.state.pa.usSee less

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The U.S. Equalitarian Party would like to replace single choice voting with ranked choice voting in primary and general elections and replace one winner districts with larger multi-member winner districts. Learn More at: https://lnkd.in/e8f2AiAA

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Be sure to check out our AI Practice’s latest report on Majority Leader Schumer’s release of his long-anticipated AI Roadmap, with details on what this signifies ahead of the 2024 election!

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I have a question for The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) why is the scorecard recommending that Boston:   1)Work with utilities to formalize partnerships with community-based organizations (Boston is involved in the Mass Save Community First Partnership, a formal arrangement that encompasses other community initiatives. So, why this recommendation?) 2)Update the zoning code to facilitate location-efficient development. (Affordable housing developers and operators may not prioritize electric vehicles, but clean energy public transportation, especially in cities like Boston, is a wise choice. Community electric vehicle car-sharing programs are also beneficial for affordable housing, and Boston already has one in place. Boston has a housing crisis and needs zoning that produces and preserves housing) Otherwise, the scorecard is great! https://lnkd.in/epXmvWae #AJustTransition

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Empowering Veteran Advocacy with EPIC Policy Group: A Strategic Approach for Non-Profit Success As a leader of a non-profit dedicated to supporting veterans, you aim to ensure they receive the recognition, benefits, and support they deserve. However, influencing policy and advocating for veteran rights can be challenging due to complex legislation, securing funding, and building influential coalitions. Many non-profits struggle with: - Limited Advocacy Resources: Tight budgets and limited staff hinder comprehensive advocacy efforts. - Complex Legislative Environment: The evolving legal landscape requires specialized knowledge. - Building Strategic Alliances: Forming coalitions and partnerships is time-consuming and requires strategic insight. - Sustainable Impact: Achieving long-term, sustainable change demands a coordinated approach. EPIC Policy Group bridges these gaps, offering expertise, resources, and strategic guidance to elevate your advocacy efforts. Our services include: 1. Policy Analysis and Development: Understand the legislative landscape and develop effective policy positions. 2. Coalition Building: Form strong alliances with organizations, stakeholders, and policymakers. 3. Advocacy Training: Equip your team with essential advocacy skills and knowledge. 4. Strategic Communications: Craft compelling messages and utilize effective communication channels. 5. Legislative Monitoring: Stay informed about changes impacting your organization. Consider Arizona Veterans, a non-profit that partnered with EPIC Policy Group. They built a coalition, secured funding, and achieved legislative victories, including the Veterans Suicide Prevention Pilot Program in 2023. To take your advocacy efforts to the next level, partner with EPIC Policy Group. Contact Samuel Curry at 602.492.3449 or visit www.epicpolicygroup.com to schedule your consultation. Empower your organization. Influence policy. Make a difference for veterans with EPIC Policy Group.

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