News
TVA privatization proposal still a live wire. President Obama’s fiscal 2014 budget request may be moribund, but one hot-button. proposal buried deep within it appears to be very much alive: Taking a close look at the option of selling off the Tennessee Valley Authority, the government-owned electric utility. The administration has launched a strategic review that’s delving into issues like “de-federalization,” the implications of a change in TVA ownership for economic development and how to deal with the agency’s assets. Federal Times
IL: Illinois Advancing P3 for Illiana Toll Road. Illinois hopes to select a private partner to develop its estimated $1.1 billion share of the proposed Illiana toll road by next fall with the goal of closing on a finance package as soon as early 2015, a top state transportation official said Thursday. Bond Buyer($)
MI: Dianda wants Privatization of Prison Food Services ended. State Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) wrote an open letter today to Acting State Personnel Director Janet McClelland calling for an end to food service privatization in Michigan prisons. Dianda worked across the aisle to get the signatures of 13 other state representatives and three senators attached to the letter, which had bipartisan support. ABC 10 News NOW
VA: Express lane future is paved with gold…. However, the public–private project contract signed with Transurban Group and Fluor Corp. includes stipulations that could force Virginians to pay the companies if non-toll-paying HOV traffic reach certain thresholds. The threshold is based on a complicated formula comparing the percentage of free HOV traffic to toll-paying drivers. If the HOV traffic reaches the threshold, the state has to pay the companies 70 percent of the toll rate. ..But those details have flown under the radar since the state struck the deal with Transurban and Fluor on the massive I–95 express-lanes project. And those who attended that October meeting in Stafford County likely had no idea about that part of the contract, which is what Farley was alluding to. The Free Lance-Star
VA: Police Crack Down on Dulles Access Highway “Backtracking”. Police are cracking down on drivers who skip the Dulles Toll Plaza and use the access highway illegally. The access road running parallel to the Dulles Toll Road is supposed to be for people going to the airport. NBC4 Washington
NY: Charter school leaders seek dialogue with de Blasio. Charter school leaders say they’re seeking an open dialogue with New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and hoping he’ll reconsider his proposals to curb their growth and start charging rent to those the city decides can afford it. Newsday
PA: Founder of Agora Cyber Charter School accused of stealing $6.7M. After James D. Marshall Jr. became board president of the Agora Cyber Charter School in 2007, he signed lots of documents for the school. But last week, he told jurors in the $6.7 million fraud trial of school founder Dorothy June Brown that he did not sign a management contract with Ms. Brown’s Cynwyd Group L.L.C. in 2006 — even though his name was on it. Pittsburgh Post Gazette
LA: Drivers license operations to privatize. The Jindal administration is entering into contracts to privatize some functions of the state Office of Motor Vehicles, including driver’s license renewals. The Advocate