Posted on 09/06/2010 7:56:00 AM PDT by reaganaut1
President Obama on Monday is to call for as much as $50 billion in government spending to start up a long-term public works plan emphasizing transportation projects – roads, rail and airport runways – over the next six years.
Mr. Obama will lay out the plan, which is intended to promote the quick creation of construction jobs but would require Congressional approval, during a trip to Milwaukee on Monday afternoon, where he will observe Labor Day by attending a union festival. The spending is one part of a broader economic recovery package that Mr. Obama is to unveil during a speech in Cleveland on Wednesday.
With Democrats looking at a bleak election season, in large part because of high unemployment, the White House has been scrambling to find ways to jump-start the sagging economy.
While Mr. Obama’s plan would call for investment over six years, the White House says it would be front-loaded with an initial investment of $50 billion in taxpayer money, to help create jobs in the shorter term. The administration says it would work with Congress to find ways to pay for the plan, so that it would not add to the nation’s rising deficit. One possibility would be to cut existing subsidies for oil and gas exploration and production.
White House officials said Mr. Obama wanted to rebuild 15,000 miles of roads, construct and maintain 4,000 miles of railway – enough track to span the continent — and rehabilitate or reconstruct 150 miles of airport runways while putting in place a system that would reduce travel time and airport delays.
The president will also call for what the White House is describing as an “infrastructure bank” that would focus on paying for national and regional transportation projects.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Hmmmm, must be an election coming up otherwise Obama could care less.
Obama wants to spend OUR money to improve HIS image.
Actually, the NYT referred to him as Mr in every article about him. They always refer to the President as Mr. It’s not some sign of extra respect towards Obama.
You can go back to their archives and it was always Mr Reagan, Mr Clinton, etc...
There’s plenty to get on the nYT about but this isn’t it.
I almost wish it did......people are hot because traffic is so snarled in my neck of the woods due to every freaking road being ripped up right now. And people are doubly p!ssed because of the mile-long left turn lanes they are putting in at every intersection which prevent you from turning left into any business you might care to patronize. I'm sure the business owners are sick about it too.
These jerks are “fighting the last depression”. In the 1930’s public works meant a huge number of unskilled men with actual shovels building things.
Today, a massive engineering study, followed by an “environmental impact” study, and evaluation by countless local bureaucratic planning agencies, and endless lawsuits eventually (years later) results in work for a small number of unionized heavy equipment operators.
Here’s a “public works” idea. Get the World Trade Center area rebuilt. Now.
Bttt
I would imagine that’s the whole idea; then all historical wrongs can be righted.
such a good year in fact, that they went on strike here in Illinois during the summer for higher wages
Everyone else is out of work, and they strike in the middle of their projects that we paid for.
These were heavy equipment operators union thugs, who got done with the “tear up” portion of their federally funded projects, then went on strike, so the roads were useless.
Every one of them should have been replaced. There are enough non-union folks out of work who would have been happy to take those jobs for the $38 an hour.
In fact, when they did it with GW Bush, many Republicans took it as a slight, not respect; they wanted him referred to as President Bush, but many in the media simply called him “George Bush” or “W”.
Not just a union giveaway, but the kind that requires 51% of the workforce be women/minority regardless of actual qualifications.
You nailed right there. What the hay is $50 billion going to accomplish they couldn't get done with $800 billion.
What it does show is what a farce and out right theft that 800 billion was.
FUBO.
from your link:
“And if construction jobs go mainly to white males who already dominate the construction trades,”
I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but here in Columbus Ohio, every new housing development is being done by non-English speaking Hispanics. And I do mean every project. I go and sit on the job sites....the supervisors are white...and I’ve never seen a black worker, ever.
Ever see Holmes on Holmes? Dollars to donuts those problem homes were built by illegals. I don’t know why he doesn’t step up to the plate and name names.
This fool hasn’t yet found out that stuffing union coffers with walking around money to elect Democrats won’t lower the unemployment rate?
This level of continued spending is literally high treason.
Where is the AnnointedIdiot pulling the $50 billion here and $100 billion there out from this time...we are goshdamn broke and the idiot still thinks throwing more money at the frakin huge ass hole is going to plug the damn thing..... =.=
Porkulus II
I'd have paid off all my debt, fully fund my 401k for a year, and still have about $2,500 for each of my kids college fund, which goes into the stock market.
Nah, solar powered trash compactors and low grade road repaving that fell apart after the first freeze, that was probably a better expenditure of money.
Jack wipe. We'll remember this in November, and every November thereafter.
I wonder if the infrastructure projects would be in the “Firewall” states.
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.