Posted on 08/08/2007 12:59:34 PM PDT by libertarianPA
CONCORD, N.H. - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton is arguing that unsafe bridges, crowded seaports and clogged highways endanger the economy as well as putting the public at risk.
Last week's fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis underscores the critical need for infrastructure improvements nationwide, Clinton said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday afternoon in New Hampshire.
She proposed spending $10 billion over 10 years to repair and upgrade roads, bridges, waterways and seaports.
"Something is very, very wrong when, at the dawn of the 21st century, in the richest country on earth, people are actually nervous about driving over bridges for fear that they'll collapse. Or they're worried that their levees may burst, or their highways may buckle," she said. "The degradation of our infrastructure isn't just a serious threat to our safety — it is also a grave threat to our economy."
The New York senator also proposed providing $250 million in grants so states can review their bridges and other structures and forming a commission to review safety certification standards and develop better ways to prioritize needed repairs on bridges and roads.
To modernize the nation's infrastructure, she would increase federal funding for public transit by $1.5 billion per year and target it to communities that have encouraged residential development that makes the best use of public transportation. Federal funding for intercity passenger rail services would increase by $1 billion over five years.
Seaports also should be a priority given the importance of foreign trade to the nation's economy, she said.
"We do not need any more wake up calls," Clinton said. "It is time to stop wringing our hands and start rolling up our sleeves."
Clinton also would increase funding for the Department of Transportation's congestion reduction programs by about 50 percent, to $600 million a year and would promote telecommuting by encouraging its use in federal agencies and spending up to $50 million a year to support state and local initiatives.
2. Other than the collapse in Minneapolis, is there some epidemic of bridge failures I'm not aware of?
3. Holy Crap! What a calculating opportunist!
She must be talking about the donks plan to scuttle all new electric power plants and drive up gas and food prices with their socialism. Now that will harm the US economy.
and puppy dogs and kitty cats, Don’t forget puppy dogs and kitty cats. And the children. The children too.
The Bridge to the 21st Century! Thank God for the Clintons. The 21st Century never would have happened without them.
What did her hubby do to repair brokendown infrastructure when he was President?
3. Holy Crap! What a calculating opportunist!
Ya beat me to it!
Well, duh!....IF every road and bridge were to simultaneously be under repairs all across the nation, things would move really slow.........
Lots of $$$ for “roads” went to “greenways” and bike/hike trails. Don’t blame the feds, blame the STATE guvmints for wasteful spending.
BILLIONS have been allocated in the federal budget for roads over the years. All this about not enough money spent is just a lie. This as another “Katrina” kind of thing. The New Orleans and Louisiana governments WASTED $$$ on everything BUT the levies.
I'm not nervous about driving over bridges for fear they'll collapse. Is anyone esle nervous about driving over bridges for fear they'll collapse? I live in Minneapolis -- less than a mile from the I35W bridge -- and I really don't think about the other bridges in the area collapsing under me when I drive. I don't see many other Twin Citians worried about that either.
Maybe Hillary knows something I don't. After all, she's the smartest woman in the world ...
Her “base” and her supporters have the attention span of gnats -
their “historical perspective” goes back to about November of 2000, when they all were infected with Bush Derangement Syndrome.
Don't worry about that, Hillary says it's going to be free!
> 3. Holy Crap! What a calculating opportunist!
I haven’t seen such manhandling of a drowning tragedy by a Democrat since.... hmmmm....
Here’s something that can be harmful to the economy: A free college system for government employees that your wife has proposed...... hundreds of thousands of local/state/fed employees going to college for 2-4 years on the backs of the taxpayers.....
I would suspect that a direct hit by a meteor, plague, nuclear fall-out, large-scale earthquakes, 40 days of rain without ceasing would also harm the economy, and her point is????
Never a word about any of this until there’s a sound bite opportunity. What a disgusting piece of crap this woman is.
Keep your fat commie ass off our bridges, you may break them since they are in such bad shape!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.