Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Governors to Bush: Infrastructure Stimulus Now!
Cruising around Washington this weekend in their limos and black SUVs were the nation’s governors in town for the National Governor’s Association’s (NGA) Winter Meeting. Among the items on the agenda was the economic stimulus recently passed by Congress and signed by the President. Specifically, the Governors are urging President Bush to support another stimulus bill that will focus on infrastructure spending.
As we have reported on this blog before, during the negotiations for the final package, Senators proposed an amendment that would invest in ready-to-go infrastructure projects as a long-term growth complement to the short-term income tax rebates. While the plan generated a great deal of support, it was ultimately left out of the final deal. The Governors this weekend did their part to revive the plan, which they see as a way to create jobs and start work on much needed public works improvements. At a press conference yesterday, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire said, "We need a dramatic infusion of federal dollars throughout this country to rebuild our basic infrastructure and allow us to have the kind of economic development that I think this country can enjoy,"
This week’s focus on infrastructure issues was kicked off by an announcement in January that Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA) and Ed Rendell (PA) had formed a new coalition with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called Building America’s Future. The coalition is dedicated to communicating the importance of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure to the presidential candidates and serving as a repository for new plans to finance and improve the nation’s infrastructure. At a news conference this week, Rendell further linked infrastructure to economic growth, "An efficient, well planned and developed infrastructure is essential if America is to compete in the global economic marketplace," At the NGA’s meeting this weekend, thirteen more governors signed on to the coalition.
Anyone who’s read the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, seen the damage caused by crumbling bridges and failing levees, or has just been stuck in traffic sees that the nation’s infrastructure needs serious work. It’s a big job, but it can be done –all it needs is the will to do it. ASCE is encouraged to see the nation’s governors taking proactive leadership to improve the nation’s infrastructure and we hope that they will inspire other political leaders to do the same. The facts are in, now is the time to act!