Democrats promise boost for road building

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer – 14 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Top Democrats plan to add a big increase in highway and mass transit funding to President Barack Obama's economic recovery program Tuesday, even as others in the president's party hope to rein in the plan's almost $1 trillion cost to taxpayers.

A move by Patty Murray, D-Wash., to add $25 billion in infrastructure projects is first in line as the Senate begins thrashing through dozens of proposed changes to the sprawling $885 billion measure.

Murray's plan would increase the money in the bill for highway projects by almost 50 percent, to $40 billion, reflecting complaints from lawmakers in both parties that Obama's plan doesn't do enough to relieve a backlog of unfinished projects. Mass transit programs would get a $5 billion boost, while water projects would get $7 billion more.

=snip=

Nineteen Democratic and Republican governors, meanwhile, cited frozen credit markets and rising unemployment in urging lawmakers to resolve their differences and asking Obama to sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk. The governors said the money it provides for public education, health care and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure will create and preserve jobs while making a sound investment in the country's long-term economic interests.

"While we all believe in the importance of free markets, we believe that the markets today need stimulating," the governors told Obama in a letter dated Monday. Among the signers are Democrats Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Charlie Crist of Florida.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus

[napoleon_in_rags]

1. They should be putting more into mass transit.

Its like an insurance policy for though times; it ensures working class individuals can still reach their jobs even if they can't afford to drive anymore. If things take a big dip here, and the might, that's the sort of thing you want in place.

[izquierdista]

2. My thoughts exactly

Switch it around and spend 40 billion on mass transit and 5 billion on highways.

[Posteritatis]

5. I wouldn't switch it entirely

Much of that mass transit uses the roads, after all.

[Syrinx]

3. "the sprawling $885 billion measure"

Interesting word choice. I want to repair and improve existing roads, but we must guard against "sprawl."

[liberal N proud]

4. And the republicans will vow to stop the spending on frivolous things

such as infrastructure. They will propose instead another tax cut aimed at the wealthiest Americans.



:sarcasm:


edit to add sarcasm smiley