Another JK press release, this time in conjunction with the President's new infrastructure plan

[Luftmensch067]

I *love* this idea!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2010

Kerry Bill Will Boost Obama Infrastructure Plan

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) released a statement following President Obama’s infrastructure proposal announced today:

“The President’s infrastructure proposal today is appropriately focused on creating jobs today and making us more competitive tomorrow so we can sustain economic growth the right way. At a time when it’s politically easy to go for gimmicks and quick fixes, the President is instead meeting a big generational challenge by investing in the long-term to help our businesses compete in a changing world. It will help create opportunity, create work that pays a decent wage across skill levels, and connect workers to the modern economy.

“China, Brazil, India, and other European countries are already making these kinds of investments and we need to do the same and more to compete and win.

“I am developing legislation to establish an American Infrastructure Bank that will attract and channel private capital to our domestic infrastructure needs. These large private investments will provide the funding we need to modernize our infrastructure while creating jobs and a competitive base for American businesses and workers. It will help reconnect America by linking urban centers and rural communities through a network of high speed rail and road investments. It’s no secret that I’ve long supported high speed rail and I believe we need to build upon the investment we made with the Recovery Act. Now is the time to act on the kind of ideas outlined by President Obama and I plan to work in the Senate to make that happen."

[wisteria]

1. Thanks for posting. All of these changes are sorely needed, but I fear nothing will get done.

The repubs naturally have nothing good to say about it, and of course some of our own Dems seem to want to ignore the idea and even the President himself. But, thank goodness, we can always count of Senator Kerry.

[karynnj]

2. Maybe not before the election, but it is an idea that needs to happen in some form

It is easy to see as you visit other countries that we have not done a decent job maintaining and improving our infrastructure. This summer, my husband and I took the high speed rail between Malaga, on the Costa Del Sol, and Madrid. It was extremely pleasant, comfortable, and easy. It took about 2 and a half hours and even had a movie (with a selection of languages via earphones).

America's high level of xenophobic pride makes us not see that we really are allowing a lot of our infrastructure to crumble. It may be that we get used to what it is - just as at a much smaller scale, it is not till you start to consider selling your house that you realize it needs repainting and that what you still think of as "new" is 10 years old - and looks it.

For now, it seems clear that Obama sems to be be seeking to contrast priorities: Spend money that will keep the US competitive and simultaneously create jobs ... or continue not to tax estates over $7 million when passed to heirs and to keep the tax rates for those making over $250,000 higher than they were in the Clinton years. (Their argument that doing so would stall the economy is silly as their was those rates were not high enough to do so in the 1990s.) I have not looked at the numbers, but it would be great if Obama had plans that added to about the full expected amount of not extending those parts of the tax cuts. It would give Democrats the ability to frame a simple choice. The fact is those tax cuts were not affordable - and the Bush legislation included this sunset because, unlike HCR, they really did ram it through via reconciliation.

I love Senator Kerry's comment on not relying on gimmicks - I would assume that Obama too will speak of the fundamental reform that this really is. I would bet that Obama may be able to create some real enthusiasm for these ideas that should create some excitement in many parts of the Democratic base. It is an FDR like proposal, which should fire the progressives. The union base should like that plus the fact that it will crate good jobs. More than anything this year, this is a Democratic way to approach the economic place we are. Although very different in what they intend to accomplish, this has some of the same intuitively positive and appealing ideas that made Kerry's 2004 alternative energy/environment ideas work so well. IMO, the inherent optimism and appeal to American can do spirit was why that 2004 proposal was the top rated sound bites over all candidates in 2004.

Obama's speech on this may be the spark needed to change the story from the media led "stimulus not working/Democrats are going to lose/tea party is a real grassroots movement" theme. It is also clear that the Democrats are using the Republican blocked small business bill - which is also well designed as either passed legislation or defining another choice. The Republicans say they favor the tax cuts - and these tax cuts are paid for by taxing companies that outsource jobs.

It looks to me like the Democrats KNOW the broadcast media is not unbiased, but they cannot completely cut out Democrats. It looks like the Democrats are going to have several easily understood things that they are fighting for - pushing the Republicans to agree or run against them.

[wisteria]

3. I hope these things work for Democrats. The media bias right now is blatantly in favor of Repubs.

And,I keep hoping that the electorate is not as ignorant as the press seems to think they are. The Republicans can offer Americans nothing that will benefit them in the long run.