PUBLICATIONS BY Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
Research
Commentary
Books
Media Appearances
2008 Research
April 22, 2008
The Subprime Mortgage Market Collapse: A Primer on the Causes and Possible Solutions
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2127)
The collapse of the subprime mortgage market has created depression-like conditions in the housing market and driven the economy to the brink of recession, but many of those who call for more federal regulation fail to recognize that earlier and more comprehensive regulatory efforts did little to deter housing market problems and in some cases may have made them worse.
April 22, 2008
Executive Summary: The Subprime Mortgage Market Collapse: A Primer on the Causes and Possible Solutions
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #2127)
The collapse of the subprime mortgage market has created depression-like conditions in the housing market and driven the economy to the brink of recession, but many of those who call for more federal regulation fail to recognize that earlier and more comprehensive regulatory efforts did little to deter housing market problems and in some cases may have made them worse.
April 03, 2008
Subprime Mortgage Problems: A Quick Tour Through the Rubble
By Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #1881)
Proposals for new federal spending and credit programs would greatly expand the role of government in the economy while doing little to alleviate the distress caused by the financial crisis.
April 02, 2008
More Transportation Spending: False Promises of Prosperity and Job Creation
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2121)
With the economy slowing and job growth declining, lobbyists are urging Congress to spend more on transportation to stimulate the economy, but creating jobs is not the same as creating value. Spending money on nearly anything will contribute to a job, but whether that job leads to the creation of products and services of broad public value is another question.
February 25, 2008
Dulles Rail Boondoggle Exposes Flaws in Federal Transportation Policy
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1824)
This $5.1 billion project would do little to relieve congestion, pollution, or energy use.
February 07, 2008
President's Homeownership Proposals Should Be Sent Back to the Drawing Board
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1802)
Expanding the federal government's role in the mortgage market would encourage more irresponsible behavior.
January 30, 2008
The Transportation Commission's Proposed 200 Percent Gas Tax Increase: One of Several Bad Ideas in Its Report
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2103)
The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission has recommended raising the gasoline tax by 218 percent over the next five years to fund new road, transit, administrative, and environmental initiatives. By rejecting the commission’s counterproductive recommendations and focusing instead on ending wasteful diversions from the highway trust fund, Congress could redeploy an estimated $19.3 billion to general-purpose roads.
2007 Research
November 14, 2007
H.R. 3915 Would Impose New Burdens and Limits on Moderate Income Borrowers
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1703)
H.R.3915 would make borrowing tougher for moderate income families and delay the housing market recovery that is now struggling to get underway.
October 23, 2007
National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes that Threaten Property Rights
By Cheryl Chumley and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D
(Backgrounder #2080)
Rather expand federal involvement in local affairs, Congress should limit existing National Heritage Areas to their initial federal funding caps and enforce the statutory requirement that they become financially self-sufficient within 15 years. Congress should also encourage local communities to establish their own heritage-based tourist and economic development programs that are independent of federal oversight and funding.
October 23, 2007
Executive Summary: National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes that Threaten Property Rights
By Cheryl Chumley and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D
(Executive Summary #2080)
Rather expand federal involvement in local affairs, Congress should limit existing National Heritage Areas to their initial federal funding caps and enforce the statutory requirement that they become financially self-sufficient within 15 years. Congress should also encourage local communities to establish their own heritage-based tourist and economic development programs that are independent of federal oversight and funding.
October 22, 2007
National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes That Threaten Property Rights
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Cheryl Chumley
(WebMemo #1671)
If enacted, H.R. 1483 would cost taxpayers an additional $135 million, jeopardize the property rights of private citizens, and distract the NPS from its core mission.
October 16, 2007
Washington Metro Needs Reform, Not a Federal Bailout
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1665)
Congress should link the continuation of existing federal subsidies to management and labor reforms at the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority.
October 09, 2007
Restoring Regional Equity to the Federal Highway Trust Fund
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2074)
Flaws in the highway program's allocation formula shortchange states in the South and Great Lakes regions. For several donor states, these misallocations cost them more than $100 million annually. The most effective way to resolve these flaws would be to turn the highway program and the right to collect and keep the federal fuel tax revenues back to the states.
September 20, 2007
Congress Should Link Amtrak's Generous Subsidy to Improved Performance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2072)
Amtrak fails to fill half of its seats on any given day, and ridership has remained largely unchanged since 2005, yet Amtrak receives the highest federal subsidy of all modes of transportation: $210.31 per passenger per 1,000 miles. Congress should cap Amtrak’s subsidy at $900 million for FY 2008 and condition future subsidies on steady improvement in Amtrak’s ridership.
September 20, 2007
Executive Summary: Congress Should Link Amtrak's Generous Subsidy to Improved Performance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #2072)
Amtrak fails to fill half of its seats on any given day, and ridership has remained largely unchanged since 2005, yet Amtrak receives the highest federal subsidy of all modes of transportation: $210.31 per passenger per 1,000 miles. Congress should cap Amtrak’s subsidy at $900 million for FY 2008 and condition future subsidies on steady improvement in Amtrak’s ridership.
September 19, 2007
Continuing the Effort to Curb Excessive FAA Salary Costs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1622)
The President should veto legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration if the bill overturns a contract settlement with air traffic controllers that saves taxpayers billions of dollars.
September 10, 2007
The Subprime Mortgage Situation: Bailout Not the Right Solution
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and David C. John
(WebMemo #1604)
The government's response should be limited to dealing with the immediate problem and should not become a vehicle for expanded housing programs or pushing other agendas. With a few key modifications, the President’s proposal could meet that standard.
June 27, 2007
Federal Farm Subsidy Programs: How to Discourage Congressional Conflicts of Interest
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2045)
Members of Congress who receive federal farm subsidies should (1) declare them in annual financial disclosures and recuse themselves from voting on legislation that would directly benefit them financially or (2) agree not to accept them and provide the public with detailed information on family members who will benefit financially from their vote in support of farm subsidies.
May 15, 2007
The Water Resources Development Act of 2007: A Pork Fest for Wealthy Beach-Front Property Owners
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1458)
Congress appears intent on diverting taxpayer dollars from the most important responsibilities of the Army Corps of Engineers to finance water-sports and other low-priority schemes.
April 18, 2007
Another Federal Assault on Property Rights: The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Act
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(Backgrounder #2025)
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Act (H.R. 319, S. 289), which would threaten the rights of property owners while largely benefiting well-to-do estate owners by facilitating exclusionary policies; in contrast, a voluntary compact among the affected states and communities to cooperate on protecting historic sites would require minimal federal involvement and no federal funding.
March 15, 2007
The Congressional Earmark Moratorium: Will It Last the Year?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2016)
Courage and leadership matter most in establishing a pattern of fiscal responsibility in Washington. The leadership on both sides of the aisle needs to ensure that the moratorium on earmarks is not circumvented by backdoor maneuvering, and the President should insist that the moratorium be extended to future years and be prepared to veto any bills that contain earmarks.
February 01, 2007
States Vote to Strengthen Property Rights
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2002)
More than 29 states have responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo v. City of New London ruling, which makes it easier for government to use eminent domain to take private property for economic development purposes, with laws and constitutional amendments to prohibit Kelo-type takings. Congress should follow their examples by passing legislation to protect property rights.
January 22, 2007
Housing Affordability: Smart Growth Abuses Are Creating a "Rent Belt" of High-Cost Areas
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1999)
Housing affordability problems are concentrated in regions where anti-growth land-use regulations have limited the supply of building lots. High-cost housing encourages business and households to move elsewhere and undermines the regional economy. The solution is to attack the root cause of the affordability problem (restrictive land-use regulations) and increase the supply of building lots.
January 22, 2007
Housing Affordability: Smart Growth Abuses Are Creating a
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1999)
Housing affordability problems are concentrated in regions where anti-growth land-use regulations have limited the supply of building lots. High-cost housing encourages business and households to move elsewhere and undermines the regional economy. The solution is to attack the root cause of the affordability problem (restrictive land-use regulations) and increase the supply of building lots
January 10, 2007
Rush Hour: How States Can Reduce Congestion Through Performance-Based Transportation Programs
By Wendell Cox, Alan E. Pisarski, and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.,
(Backgrounder #1995)
One by one, government programs in a growing number of states are becoming subject to performance-based systems to ensure that unresponsive bureaucracies are held accountable to the same standards of performance that have always been common in the private sector, where the difference between success and failure is often a matter of survival.
January 03, 2007
Memo to the New Congressional Leadership: How to Improve Proposals for Congressional Earmark and Lobbying Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1296)
Any serious earmark reform must require extensive reporting and transparency so as to expose the link between earmarks and campaign contributions. Anything less would not restore integrity to the legislative process.
2006 Research
December 14, 2006
Will New Congress Be Santa to Taxpayers and Grinch to Lobbyists?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1287)
Congress cuts out earmarks, marking a big victory for citizen-activists and fiscal restraint.
November 08, 2006
How Minority Leader Pelosi Can Use the Lame Duck Session to Restore Integrity to the Federal Budget Process
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1249)
Reject earmarks to demonstrate a firm commitment to integrity in budgeting.
September 13, 2006
Congress Considers Costly Bailouts for Amtrak, Metro
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1211)
The President should threaten to veto costly and irresponsible bailouts of Amtrak and Washington's Metro system.
September 05, 2006
Will the Senate Raid the Treasury for Amtrak?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1956)
Because Amtrak’s most recent annual report reveals that financial and operational problems continue to worsen, the railroad’s new board and management should begin to eliminate some of its more wasteful routes: first, the Sunset Limited, with its $433 subsidy per passenger, followed by the Silver Service, with total losses exceeding $100 million in 2005.
July 19, 2006
Improving the Performance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1167)
The extensive flooding of New Orleans caused by several breaks in the levee system during Hurricane Katrina led to an extensive debate about the performance of the Army Corps of Engineers in protecting Americans from natural disasters.
July 17, 2006
H.R. 3496: The Biggest Pork Barrel Earmark in History?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1163)
Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) is requesting the House of Representatives to consider an amendment (H.R. 3496, as revised) to the Deep Water Energy Resources Act (H.R. 4761) that would divert $1.5 billion of federal revenues earned through offshore drilling to subsidize the deeply troubled Metro transit system serving the nation's capital and his congressional district.
June 27, 2006
Third-Quarter Report Card for Congress: Improvement Needed
By Brian M. Riedl, Ronald D. Utt. Ph.D., and Alison Acosta Fraser
(Backgrounder #1947)
There is no reason why Members of Congress cannot raise their performance measures on key domestic policy issues, many of which have already made some progress through the legislative process. Over the past few weeks, Members have shown exceptional resolve on a number of controversial issues. If they maintain this pace, they could easily complete the needed work.
June 05, 2006
A Costly Delay: Air Traffic Controllers' Expensive New Strategy
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1113)
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will vote on fiscal responsibility and the integrity of the existing federal statutes that bind and guide them. At issue is legislation (H.R. 5449) from a bipartisan group of Members to change federal law to boost the
May 16, 2006
Winning the Fight to Curb Excessive FAA Salary Costs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1078)
In September 2005, the existing contract between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the air traffic controllers expired and discussions over its replacement began in earnest.
May 03, 2006
Springtime for Amtrak and America
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1932)
Because Amtrak's most recent annual report reveals that financial and operational problems continue to worsen, the railroad's new board and management should begin to eliminate some of its more wasteful routes: first, the Sunset Limited, with its $433 subsidy per passenger, followed by the Silver Service, with total losses exceeding $100 million in 2005.
April 27, 2006
Executive Summary: A Primer on Lobbyists, Earmarks, and Congressional Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1924)
Growing evidence linking earmarks to bribes from lobbyists and their clients has encouraged Congress to enact reforms, but many of these proposals would make only cosmetic changes. Much more transparency is needed, and stiffer reporting requirements should be imposed on lobbyists, their clients, and the Members of Congress and congressional staff that they contact.
April 27, 2006
A Primer on Lobbyists, Earmarks, and Congressional Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1924)
Growing evidence linking earmarks to bribes from lobbyists and their clients has encouraged Congress to enact reforms, but many of these proposals would make only cosmetic changes. Much more transparency is needed, and stiffer reporting requirements should be imposed on lobbyists, their clients, and the Members of Congress and congressional staff that they contact.
April 25, 2006
Senators Should Derail Mississippi's "Railroad to Nowhere"
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1048)
A questionable earmark wilts under strong scrutiny.
April 24, 2006
Reining in Excessive FAA Salary Costs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1927)
The Federal Aviation Administration should continue to resist the air traffic controllers' demands for a contract that would increase total compensation to over $200,000 by the last year in the contract and build on its past privatization efforts by developing legislation to privatize the entire air traffic control system, as many other countries have done.
March 07, 2006
Lobbyists, Earmarks, and Congressional Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1008)
Because of the regrettable actions of a few, Congress is now considering significant reforms that would curb the influence of lobbyists and discourage the use of wasteful earmarks.
2005 Research
December 22, 2005
Bait-and-Switch on Alaska Bridges Undermine Congress's Credibility—Again
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #951)
The two Bridges to Nowhere live.
December 01, 2005
Property Rights Protection Get Bogged Down
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #927)
While there's much talk about firming up property rights, there's been little legislation passed.
November 15, 2005
Leadership Change Could Put Passenger Rail Back on Track
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #916)
Amtrak's board finally lost patience with Gunn's lack of progress in improving service and reducing losses. This is encouraging.
November 04, 2005
The Army Corps of Engineers: Reallocating Its Spending to Offset Reconstruction Costs in New Orleans
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1892)
The Army Corps of Engineers¹ annual budget should be reallocated to shift spending priorities to the repair and upgrade of New Orleans¹ levees. The estimated cost of rebuilding to withstand a Category 5 hurricane (between
$4.1 billion and $5.1 billion) could be met by devoting just 10 percent of current Corps spending to the project over the next 10 years.
November 03, 2005
Senate Scheduled to Vote for More Wasteful Transportation Spending
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #909)
At a time of fiscal crisis, boosting federal subsidies to money-losing and mediocre Amtrak makes no sense.
October 20, 2005
The Bridge to Nowhere: A National Embarrassment
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #889)
In the face of opposition from leadership, Sen. Tom Coburn puts forward a gutsy amendment.
September 28, 2005
After Weeks of Confusion, the Right Course for Evacuee Housing Assistance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #866)
Yes to vouchers, no to remote and isolated trailer parks.
September 21, 2005
Pelosi Leads the Way on Highway Bill Give-Back
By Andrew M. Grossman and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #852)
Politics makes strange bedfellows, but apparently hurricanes have far stranger effects.
September 16, 2005
How to Turn the President's Gulf Coast Pledge into Reality
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser, Dan Lips, Robert M. Moffit, Ph.D., and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #848)
Private investment, direct assistance to individuals, and sound economics are the basis of recovery.
September 15, 2005
Congress Faces Pressure to Surrender Pork for Flood Relief
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #841)
The plan to redirect highway bill pork to a higher cause gathers steam.
September 09, 2005
President's Bold Action on Davis-Bacon Will Aid the Relief Effort
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #836)
By suspending David-Bacon, the President has strengthened relief efforts.
September 02, 2005
The Katrina Relief Effort: Congress Should Redirect Highway Earmark Funding to a Higher Purpose
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #832)
In the face of genuine need, don't these expensive earmarks seem comparatively frivolous?
June 29, 2005
Kelo Backlash Could Lead to Restoration of Property Rights Lost to Smart Growth and Eminent Domain Abuses
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #781)
A bad decision may end up reinvigorating property rights.
June 29, 2005
The Katrina Relief Effort: Members of Congress Should Redirect Highway Earmarks to a Higher Purpose
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #781)
The region hit by Katrina needs infrastructure more than communities need frivolous earmarks.
June 20, 2005
Time to Reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1861)
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac control as much as half of the nation's residential mortgage market. Rather than enhance their influence and market penetration, Congress should revoke their $2.25 billion lines of credit with the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve's authority to buy their debt, thereby forcing them to compete with other financial institutions.
June 15, 2005
A Serendipitous Flaw: Could Bad Brakes Lead to Fundamental Reform of Amtrak?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #764)
Amtrak's own ineptitude, along with an unexpected equipment failure, may finally force reform of the troubled railroad.
May 09, 2005
Using the Veto Threat to Impose Reform on the Highway Reauthorization Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #741)
As the Senate this week considers its version of legislation to reauthorize the federal highway program, Senators will be confronted with a number of opportunities to improve or worsen the traffic congestion
April 25, 2005
Can Both Sides of the Sprawl Debate Find Common Ground on Property Rights?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #730)
The backlash against restrictive zoning.
April 11, 2005
Getting Urban Transit Systems Focused on Cost and Service
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #717)
How to put an end to transit's burden on taxpayers.
April 06, 2005
Rethinking a Highway Bill Veto: What Would President Andrew Jackson Do?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #709)
Pork barrel spending should make the highway bill veto bait.
March 16, 2005
Amtrak Bankruptcy: It's Time
By Keith Miller and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #689)
It is time for Amtrak to declare bankruptcy and get itself reorganized for a better future
March 07, 2005
Congress Gets Another Chance to Improve America's Transportation: Should It Be Its Last?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #9999)
Turn back the highway program to the states or to allow states to voluntarily opt out.
February 07, 2005
The President's Proposal to De-Fund Amtrak will Force the Railroad to Adopt Needed Reforms
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #655)
Maybe now Amtrak will get its act together.
February 07, 2005
President's Plan to Consolidate Federal Economic Development Programs Is Long Overdue
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #656)
With over 1,000 earmarks are at stake, the President makes a move.
February 01, 2005
Time for Congress to End the Regional Inequities in the Federal Highway Program
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #645)
The federal highway program shortchanges many states
2004 Research
November 10, 2004
Is Pork Barrel Spending Ready to Explode? The Anatomy of an Earmark
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #608)
Lobbyists devise a new strategy to push pork-barrel spending.
July 28, 2004
The EPA Withdraws Inaccurate Smart Growth–Traffic Congestion Report
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1782)
The EPA's Characteristics and Performance of Regional Transportation Systems report was so deeply flawed that the agency was forced to withdraw it within two months of its release. Both Congress and the President should launch formal investigations into EPA analytical quality and integrity.
July 19, 2004
Can Canada Teach Us How to Hold The Line on Amtrak Funding
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #539)
Congress should limit Amtrak funding to $900 million and demand that Amtrak adopt improvements that have worked in Canada.
July 07, 2004
Congress's Risky Zero Down Payment Plan Will Undermine FHA's Soundness and Discourage Self-Reliance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #529)
The Zero Downpayment Act could cost taxpayers a bundle, evidence from similar programs shows.
May 20, 2004
A Note to House and Senate Conferees About the Highway Reauthorization Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D
(Backgrounder #1756)
When considering the Transportation Equity Act (H.R. 3550), the following areas will require conferees' attention: earmarks, tolling restrictions, private-activity bonds, performance accountability, and the reopening trigger. Conferees should carefully consider the impact of these priority areas and whether they allow or disallow greater state spending flexibility.
May 18, 2004
Opportunities for Private Sector Participation in Surface Transportation Investment and Operations
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Testimony #9999)
Testimony of Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., before House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs on May 18, 2004
May 05, 2004
Federal Spending Creates Few Jobs, Less Value
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #497)
Most studies find that federal spending creates few job.
April 15, 2004
Highways and Jobs: The Uneven Record of Federal Spending and Job Creation
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(Backgrounder #1747)
The findings of decades of independent studies cast serious doubt on advocates' claims for the federal highway program's job-creation potential. Even the one substantive study (commissioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation) to assert much of an impact on job creation reveals that many proponents of highway spending exaggerate its ability to predict the number of jobs created by additional spending.
March 05, 2004
Putting an End to Drive-By Lootings: An Open Letter to the President on the Highway Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #439)
At the heart of a new highway funding program should be a new management system that imposes quantitative performance goals on federal and state transportation officials and that redirects spending to benefit the motorists who fund the system with their fuel taxes.
February 27, 2004
More Corporate Welfare Embedded in the Farm Bill
By Charli Coon and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #436)
Among the many troubling aspects of the costly farm bill were a series of provisions to provide even more federal subsidies to rural electric cooperatives. These should be repealed.
February 13, 2004
Yes, Mr. President, Veto the Highway Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1725)
The current highway bill is a poster child for profligate spending, expected to be loaded with pork-barrel earmarks, multimillion-dollar boondoggles unrelated to improving mobility, and regional inequities that each year ship billions of dollars from the South to the North. It is an ideal target for a veto to show that the President is serious about restraining federal spending.
February 02, 2004
President's Surface Transportation Budget Proposal Holds the Line on Spending
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #409)
President Bush's proposal to fund federal highway and transit programs at $257 billion over the next six-year reauthorization period will ensure that the impact of federal transportation spending on the deficit is limited through FY2009.
2003 Research
December 05, 2003
American Dream Downpayment Act: Fiscally Irresponsible and Redundant to Existing Homeownership Programs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #378)
The House of Representatives is considering the American Dream Downpayment Act. Although encouraging home ownership is a useful policy goal from a variety of perspectives, policies to promote it should be ones that create opportunity and encourage individuals to save, not seek handouts.
November 21, 2003
Proposal to Turn the Federal Highway Program Back to the States Would Relieve Traffic Congestion
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1709)
Congress has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to reform the federal highway and transit program to give greater responsibility and decision-making to the states and metropolitan areas that are confronting costly congestion and growing repair backlogs. The proposed Transportation Empowerment Act is a good place to start and, combined with other proposed legislation like the Freeing Alternatives for Speedy Transportation Act, will lead to greater mobility without increasing taxes.
November 07, 2003
Have the Tax Cuts Saved America from Eurosclerosis?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1702)
With several European governments (notably France and Germany) now realizing that holding the line on tax increases is not enough and that tax cuts are essential to achieving high rates of economic growth, American presidential candidates embracing the bankrupt policies of Old Europe will find themselves out of step and isolated from the mainstream debate about the future of the American economy.
September 30, 2003
Obesity and Life Styles: Is it the Hamburger or your House?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #343)
In a sustained effort to undermine America's preference for suburban living and promote land use regulations that force families into higher density housing, anti-suburban activists have attempted to link the suburbs with whatever social or health concerns are in the news. Their case is weak.
September 24, 2003
End the Unions' Costly Monopoly of the Air Traffic Control System
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #340)
By threatening to use his veto against legislation that would protect federal air traffic controllers from competition, President George W. Bush succeeded in getting House and Senate conferees to endorse his management reform program.
September 19, 2003
Sprawl and Obesity: A Flawed Connection
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #337)
A new report from Smart Growth America and the Surface Transportation Policy Project, Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl, links growing obesity concerns with sprawl. The report's findings, however, fall short of supporting this conclusion. This is another attempt to create a national crisis requiring land use restrictions.
September 11, 2003
Closing the Spending Gap Between Contending Transportation Reauthorization Proposals
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1688)
Recent proposals by the Bush Administration and some Members of Congress to use tolls and other user fees to supplement revenues from the existing federal fuel tax could raise billions of additional dollars to construct new road capacity throughout the United States, targeting resources to places that need it the most and limiting the burden of paying for the improvement to just those who benefit.
September 10, 2003
Transit Advocates Want the Working Poor to Use Bikes and Buses, Not Cars _
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1687)
The federal transportation program has suffered from an advanced case of mission creep over the past several decades and now spends tens of billions of dollars each year on marginal projects that benefit only a small fraction of the traveling public. This year's reauthorization is a good place to start restoring balance to the program and begin funding projects that people actually want to use, such as more road capacity.
September 10, 2003
Executive Summary:Transit Advocates Want the Working Poor to Use Bikes and Buses, Not Cars
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1687)
The federal transportation program has suffered from an advanced case of mission creep over the past several decades and now spends tens of billions of dollars each year on marginal projects that benefit only a small fraction of the traveling public. This year's reauthorization is a good place to start restoring balance to the program and begin funding projects that people actually want to use, such as more road capacity.
July 17, 2003
Istook Draws the Line on Amtrak
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #317)
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation passed an appropriations bill that limits Amtrak's FY 2004 federal subsidy to $560 million – about the same amount as it got in FY 2001.
July 07, 2003
House Appropriators Undermine the President's Competitive Contracting Program
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #890)
An amendment attached to the Interior Department spending bill for FY 2004 would forbid DOI managers from spending money on cost studies (as directed by the Office of Management and Budget) to determine what employees do and at what cost. America's taxpayers and park visitors deserve better: If this provision is included in the final appropriations bill, President Bush should veto it.
June 20, 2003
Will Congress Protect the Unionized Government Monopoly at the FAA?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #887)
In response to House and Senate passage of FAA bills that protect government workers from competition, the White House has threatened to veto any bill that includes such prohibitions on the President's ability to manage the federal work force effectively on behalf of taxpayers and service users. President Bush should carry out that threat if Congress fails to remove the offending prohibitions in conference.
June 19, 2003
The Case for RESPA Reform
By James L. Gattuso and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #299)
For the vast majority, financing a home will be the largest—and most complex—single financial transaction they will ever make. Unfortunately, both this complexity and cost of this transaction is made larger by federal regulation.
May 22, 2003
New Highway Proposal Fights Congestion with Fee-Based Express Lanes
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #882)
New highway reform legislation introduced in Congress in early 2003 could add tens of billions of dollars of new investment to our highway system without raising taxes. Called the Freeing Alternatives for Speedy Transportation (FAST) Act, H.R. 1767 promises one of the most significant improvements in the federal highway program since it was created in 1956.
May 09, 2003
The 2001 Tax Cut Did Make a Difference
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1653)
To ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership position as the specter haunting a stagnant Europe, Congress should this year enact a significant tax relief of the type and magnitude recommended by the President.
April 09, 2003
Does Sprawl Breed Violence? A Debate
By Ronald Utt
(WebMemo #255)
Besides having the most murders, rapes, and assaults per capita of any developed nation, the United States is also home to 76 percent of all serial killers.
April 07, 2003
Reauthorization of TEA-21
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1643)
Congress and the President should allow the troubled federal highway program to die a quiet death when the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) expires on September 30, 2003.
April 07, 2003
bg1643: Executive Summary: Reauthorization of TEA-21
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Summary #1643)
bg1643: Executive Summary: Reauthorization of TEA-21: A Primer on Reforming the Federal Highway and Transit Programs
2002 Research
September 05, 2002
Census Shows Commuters are Rejecting Transit
By Ronald D. Utt and Wendell Cox
(Executive Memorandum #832)
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau show that over the past decade, 39 of the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas experienced a decline in the share of commuters using public transit--buses, rail, and subways--to get to work.
July 10, 2002
Time to Ink the Veto Pen
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Christopher B. Summers
(Backgrounder #1566)
With the last remnants of spending restraint fading fast in Congress, fiscal discipline will be restored only if the White House declares a defined limit on government spending for the next fiscal year. The President should make it clear that he will exercise his veto authority.
June 25, 2002
Amtrak Gets More Than Its Fair Share of Federal Funding
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. and Wendell Cox
(WebMemo #118)
Amtrak and its supporters frequently argue that a key reason for Amtrak's manifest deficiencies is the "unfair treatment it receives within the federal budget." Adjusted for the generous rounding process applied by Amtrak's management in estimating shares, the figures show that Amtrak actually did not fare so badly in comparison with the other modes.
June 25, 2002
House Committee Votes Tax on Moderate Income Homebuyers
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #119)
The House Financial Services Committee voted last week to risk the solvency of the FHA mortgage insurance program and tax moderate-income homebuyers in order to spend the money on new subsidized rental housing program layered on top of the several that already exist.
June 05, 2002
2002 Supplemental Spending Bill
By Brian M. Riedl with Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #107)
The $34 billion Senate FY 2002 Supplemental spending bill to enhance Homeland Security has been abused by many Senators to provide unnecessary spending to privileged constituents. Most of these questionable add-ons have absolutely nothing to do with national defense. In a number of cases, the Senate has reduced spending for legitimate security and anti-terrorism objectives requested by the President in order to make way for a costly wish list of special-interest projects.
May 30, 2002
Will Sprawl Gobble Up America's Land?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1556)
Although federal data on land use reveal such concerns to be misplaced--only 5.2 percent of the continental United States is defined as "developed"--so-called smart growth and new urbanist advocates remain undeterred in their effort to impose costly and constraining limits on how individuals may develop and use their private property.
May 30, 2002
BG1556es: Will Sprawl Gobble Up America's Land?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1556)
BG1556es: Will Sprawl Gobble Up America's Land? Federal Data Reveal Development's Trivial Impact
May 13, 2002
BG1547ES: Amtrak's Impending Collapse Offers Opportunity for Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1547)
BG1547ES: Amtrak's Impending Collapse Offers One-Time Opportunity for Reform
May 13, 2002
Amtrak's Impending Collapse Offers Opportunity for Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1547)
Congress and the Administration should end their 30-year obsession with trying to prove that socialism can be made to work and instead welcome the opportunity to review and consider the many innovative proposals that might be adopted as remedies for America's ailing rail service.
March 15, 2002
Can Congress Be Embarrassed into Ending Wasteful Pork-Barrel Spending?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Christopher B. Summers
(Backgrounder #1527)
Congress is spending taxpayer dollars on incumbents' reelection campaigns.
March 07, 2002
Opportunities to Improve Passenger Rail Service
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Testimony #9999)
Congress and the Administration should welcome the opportunity to review and consider the many innovative proposals that might be adopted as remedies for America's ailing passenger rail service.
2001 Research
November 13, 2001
Lobbyists Continue to Use Tragedy to Raid Taxpayers
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1502)
In the aftermath of September 11, Politicians are rushing to grab federal funds for states affected by the attacks.
November 08, 2001
Lobbyists Continue to Use Tragedy to Raid American Taxpayers
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #55)
Ordinary Americans saw the terrorist atacks of September 11th as a challenge demanding a sacrifice of themselves for the good of others. However, many of Washington's elites saw an opportunity to sacrifice others for the good of themselves, or of their influential constituents.
October 22, 2001
Lessons on How NOT to Stimulate the Economy
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1495)
Although Congress is split over whether the stimulus package should be comprised of tax cuts or spending increases or some combination of both, lessons derived from such past efforts at home and abroad demonstrate that strategies relying on increased spending will fail. Indeed, such lessons also suggest that such strategies make things worse by diverting scarce resources away from productive use in the private sector.
October 02, 2001
Lobbyists Use Tragedy to Raid American Taxpayers
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Memorandum #781)
Ordinary Americans saw the terrorist atacks of September 11th as a challenge demanding a sacrifice of themselves for the good of others. However, many of Washington's elites saw an opportunity to sacrifice others for the good of themselves, or of their influential constituents.
October 02, 2001
Proposed Amtrak Bailout Would Bust the Budget
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1482)
Given the many successes experienced both at home and abroad, the Bush Administration should be open to any proposals for private-participation in fixing the ailing passenger rail service.
August 08, 2001
New Tax Law Boosts School Construction with Public-Private Partnerships
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1463)
Public-private partnerships offer the prospect of building less expensive, higher quality schools in shorter periods of time than is currently possible through traditional public-sector management and funding.
June 29, 2001
Putting the Brakes on Sprawl
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt and Wendell Cox
(WebMemo #20)
History could well show that shortly after ending red-lining, which suppressed minority home ownership rates, cities began green-lining, through imposition of growth areas, with virtually the same effect. There is much more at stake here than urban planning.
June 25, 2001
Improving Govt Performance Through Competition
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1452)
President George Bush's proposal to revive and expand the federal government's program of competitive contracting is a refreshing change from the official disinterest that characterized the program for the past 12 years.
June 25, 2001
BG1452ES: Improving Govt Performance Through Competition
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1452)
BG1452ES: Improving Government Performance Through Competitive Contracting
April 06, 2001
Smart Growth, Housing Costs, and Homeownership
By Wendell Cox and Dr. Ronald D. Utt,
(Backgrounder #1426)
Governments can foster effective solutions to sprawl-created problems by resisting demands to impose coercive growth control policies and by clearing away the aging regulatory impedimenta that often direct development into unattractive patterns and directions.
April 06, 2001
BG1426ES: Smart Growth, Housing Costs, and Homeownership
By Wendell Cox and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1426)
BG1426ES: Smart Growth, Housing Costs, and Homeownership
February 23, 2001
End of the Line For Amtrak's Current Management
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1412)
When Amtrak releases its much-delayed financial report for fiscal year (FY) 2000 (which ended October 31, 2000), it is expected to show operating losses of $944 million for the year--a new record of red ink for the deeply troubled service.
2000 Research
August 28, 2000
New Amtrak Boondoggle May Outdo All Others
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1392)
Legislation now before Congress proposes to dedicate as much as $16 billion of future budget surpluses to prop up Amtrak, America's federally chartered and subsidized passenger rail service.
August 16, 2000
Classroom Modernization Promotes Unwarranted Intrusion
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Memorandum #692)
Graham-Shaw bill provides a better approach
May 08, 2000
Flawed Federal Land Use Report Encourages Unnecessary Spending
By Wendell Cox and Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1368)
Flawed Federal Land Use Report Encourages Unnecessary Spending
February 11, 2000
Congress Has the Better Plan to Facilitate Public School Construction
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Memorandum #650)
Congress, Not the President, Has the Better Plan to Facilitate Public School Construction
