critics -- including some carmakers -- have criticized the administration for limitations placed, saying it's likely to slow down the adoption of EVs and leave drivers with few options.

"Certainly, it sets a high bar that that tax credit is eligible for batteries and vehicles that are produced in the United States or in North America or countries that we have free trade agreements with," Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, told Yahoo Finance Live (video above). "We think that that's an appropriate bar because what we want across time is to provide a strong incentive for us to have secure supply chains in those areas."
[...]
Specifically, the new law restricts the full tax credit to EVs with battery material sourced from the U.S. or free-trade partners, starting in 2024. Any minerals or components sourced from "foreign entities of concern" including China would not qualify for the [MAX] $7,500 credit. Final assembly of the vehicle would also need to take place in North America. Adding to the restrictions, the law only applies to vehicles with a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) below $55,000 for cars and below $80,000 for trucks and SUVs....

In a recent interview with Yahoo Finance Live, Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker called the restrictions counterproductive, arguing that the limitations would actually "slow the adoption of EVs."

"It's going to offer less choice to the consumers," he said. "I'll be surprised if there's even 10 vehicles in the US that will qualify for the full amount."

An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office estimated the $85 million set aside for new EV credits in the 2023 fiscal years would only translate to 11,000 new vehicles sold under the $7,500 credit. That pales in comparison to roughly 630,000 EVs sold in 2021 just in the U.S.

[Maglev] Hogan touts transportation aid during his tenure, but counties say it still lags, 18 Aug

The president of the Maryland Association of Counties [MACo] said Thursday that a "significant increase" in state transportation aid represents a good start but more is still needed. ... the underlying formula governing that aid is lower than where it was before cuts were made more than a decade ago.

Three decades ago, 23 counties would split roughly [75%] of the [federal DOT] aid. The final 25% would go to Baltimore city, which has no state roads.

[Maglev] Hogan [gov-R], in an unusual opening day conference address, used his time to take one more victory lap for his two terms. Eight years ago, [Maglev] Hogan stood in front of the same group and vowed to restore lost state aid for local transportation projects.

"We prioritized funding for local transportation projects. The previous administration cut highway user [interstate toll] revenues by 90%. I promised you eight years ago if I was elected, we'd try to do something about that," said Hogan.

That funding was slashed by as much as 96 percent under [Martin] O'Malley [gov-D] and the state [Reagan-Dem] legislature to help offset budget shortfalls deficit.