Author Archive

Kery Murakami

Kery Murakami
Kery Murakami is a senior reporter covering Congress and federal agencies for Route Fifty. A longtime reporter, he has covered state, city and county governments, as well as transportation, at newspapers like the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Newsday. In Washington, D.C, he has covered federal policy areas including broadband, healthcare and higher education.
Finance

Shutdown averted: States, localities breathe a sigh of relief

Congress voted to fund the government for 45 days. For now, the agreement puts off hard decisions about what to do regarding public assistance programs and the tens of thousands of federally funded state workers that would be impacted.

Finance

Cannabis banking bill closer to a vote in the U.S. Senate

The bill would address a problem that has led to half of the nation’s cannabis dispensaries being robbed or burglarized.

Finance

Why a government shutdown is complex for state and local governments

It will impact welfare, food stamps, housing and infrastructure, among other things. But planning for a shutdown is difficult for a myriad of reasons.

Finance

Funding for WIC food assistance remains uncertain amid budget fight 

As food costs increase, more women than expected have been signing up for the program. Without increased funding, states may have to turn women and their children away. 

Finance

Low-income water assistance program set to end

Advocates are pushing to extend the program as poverty rates in the U.S. are on rise, an increase attributed to the end of other expanded pandemic benefits for food, rent and unemployment.

Management

Pandemic unemployment insurance fraud could have cost $135B, says government watchdog

The Government Accountability Office also says that cuts Congress made as part of the debt deal in June has hurt state efforts to prevent future fraud.

Infrastructure

Transportation is feeling the heat

As cities nationwide get hotter, addressing extreme temperatures and their effects on roads, bridges and rail is becoming a priority.

Management

States will soon be required to track post-welfare employment outcomes

The new rule, part of the debt deal struck in June, is a bipartisan effort by Congress to improve welfare assistance and lift recipients out of poverty.

Infrastructure

States lose federal water funds to earmarks

Democrats and Republicans in Congress could divert nearly $1.5 billion from states for local funding.

Emerging Tech

States put up their own money to attract chips manufacturing

One year after the CHIPS act became law, states are bolstering federal funding with their own investments in semiconductor research and development.

Infrastructure

As flood risk changes, many communities brace for insurance rate shock

While the National Flood Insurance Program’s new way of setting flood insurance premiums better reflect a property’s flood risk, lawmakers say the significantly higher rates for some properties could discourage people from buying insurance.

Infrastructure

States get a leg up on grant applications

To better compete for federal funding, several states are setting up programs to provide matching funds and grant writing expertise.

Finance

Treasury expands the uses of ARPA funding

Under interim rules, the federal agency would allow state and local governments to spend coronavirus relief money on natural disasters, additional transportation projects and housing, among other uses.

Infrastructure

Much is at stake in Congress’ upcoming budget negotiations for state and local water agencies

Two analyses suggest governments will be getting far less than what they need. They blame politics and earmarks.

Finance

A GOP bill would ban California’s pig measure and others like it

The proposal, which is part of the farm bill, would block states from passing laws that could change how agriculture is practiced in other states. Critics say it could upend hundreds of state and local laws.

Management

The risk of fraud is high in the nation’s largest housing program, report finds

The federal department that disperses funds to states to build affordable housing is failing to provide necessary oversight, an audit found, increasing “the opportunities for mismanagement and fraudulent activity.”

Digital Government

Regulate AI? Here’s what states need to know

A new report by the National Conference of State Legislatures provides a primer for lawmakers on how they might approach oversight of artificial intelligence.

Workforce

Most cities' climate plans don’t plan for a green workforce, report says

As cities look to meet ambitious climate goals, many are missing key details in their plans to build the workforce they will need.

Emerging Tech

Unless states act soon, the ‘AI rich’ will ‘only get richer’

The industry is currently concentrated in only a handful of places in the U.S. States can change that.

Finance

Food assistance for new moms and toddlers projected to fall short

The number of low-income women signing up for the federal Women, Infants and Children program is sharply increasing. But funding levels don't look likely to change.