President Barack Obama on Labor Day sent a strong signal that he’s listening to calls for more government investment in the nation’s crumbling infrastructure – which, as importantly, would put thousands of construction workers back to work.

Speaking to union workers in Milwaukee, Obama called for the spending of more than $50 billion to help rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, airports and railways.

“It doesn’t do anybody any good when so many hard working Americans have been idled, yet so much of America needs rebuilding,” Obama said. “That’s why I am announcing a new plan for rebuilding and modernizing America’s roads and rails and runways for the long term.”

Obama said the plan would build on the $787 billion federal stimulus program he initiated shortly after taking office. A substantial portion of that money went to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Several construction association leaders credited the stimulus with saving tens of thousands of building jobs – and helping to not make the moribund industry worse.

“Over the next six years we are going to rebuild 150,000 miles of our roads – enough to circle the world six times. We’re going to lay and maintain 4,000 miles of our railways – enough to stretch coast to coast. We’re going to restore 150 miles of runways and advance a next-generation air-traffic control system to reduce flight-times and delays for American travelers,” Obama said. “We used to have the best infrastructure in the world. We can have it again. We’re going to make it happen. This will create jobs and make our economy run better over the long haul.”

The spending of $50 billion on infrastructure is only a small down payment on the kind of infrastructure investment this nation needs – but has never had the political will to spend. Obama Administration officials said unlike the stimulus money, this infrastructure spending is aimed at long-term growth, as part of a six-year plan to significantly increase spending on transportation repair work.

Republican leaders, predictably, assailed Obama’s plan as ineffective, saying it would add to the federal deficit, although the president vowed to work with Congress to offset the spending. His initial plans call for eliminating tax breaks for gas and oil companies.

“We don’t need more government stimulus spending,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “We need to end Washington Democrats’ out-of-control spending spree, stop their tax hikes, and create jobs by eliminating the job-killing uncertainty that is hampering our small businesses.”

With Republican opposition, Obama’s plan likely isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It’s an election year, and Congress only has a few weeks of work planned this fall before members go home to campaign.

The Associated General Contractors hailed the president’s proposal.

“The president clearly appreciates that the infrastructure-focused portions of the stimulus were effective in boosting employment and helping rebuild America’s aging infrastructure,” said Associated General Contractors CEO Stephen Sandherr. “And while the most effective sequel to the stimulus is passing a fully funded six-year surface transportation bill, countless thousands of construction workers will have a better chance of retaining their jobs thanks to this proposal than they otherwise would once the stimulus runs its course.

“Like others, we are anxious to learn more details about the President’s proposal, and hope that this proposal receives the bipartisan consideration and support investing in our country’s economic infrastructure ought to merit. After all, the American people are counting on both parties to begin tackling the nation’s $2.2 trillion infrastructure deficit.”
Obama offers $50B infrastructure lifeline to U.S. construction

President Barack Obama on Labor Day sent a strong signal that he’s listening to calls for more government investment in the nation’s crumbling infrastructure – which, as importantly, would put thousands of construction workers back to work.

Speaking to union workers in Milwaukee, Obama called for the spending of more than $50 billion to help rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, airports and railways.

“It doesn’t do anybody any good when so many hard working Americans have been idled, yet so much of America needs rebuilding,” Obama said. “That’s why I am announcing a new plan for rebuilding and modernizing America’s roads and rails and runways for the long term.”

Obama said the plan would build on the $787 billion federal stimulus program he initiated shortly after taking office. A substantial portion of that money went to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Several construction association leaders credited the stimulus with saving tens of thousands of building jobs – and helping to not make the moribund industry worse.

“Over the next six years we are going to rebuild 150,000 miles of our roads – enough to circle the world six times. We’re going to lay and maintain 4,000 miles of our railways – enough to stretch coast to coast. We’re going to restore 150 miles of runways and advance a next-generation air-traffic control system to reduce flight-times and delays for American travelers,” Obama said. “We used to have the best infrastructure in the world. We can have it again. We’re going to make it happen. This will create jobs and make our economy run better over the long haul.”

The spending of $50 billion on infrastructure is only a small down payment on the kind of infrastructure investment this nation needs – but has never had the political will to spend. Obama Administration officials said unlike the stimulus money, this infrastructure spending is aimed at long-term growth, as part of a six-year plan to significantly increase spending on transportation repair work.

Republican leaders, predictably, assailed Obama’s plan as ineffective, saying it would add to the federal deficit, although the president vowed to work with Congress to offset the spending. His initial plans call for eliminating tax breaks for gas and oil companies.

“We don’t need more government stimulus spending,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “We need to end Washington Democrats’ out-of-control spending spree, stop their tax hikes, and create jobs by eliminating the job-killing uncertainty that is hampering our small businesses.”

With Republican opposition, Obama’s plan likely isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It’s an election year, and Congress only has a few weeks of work planned this fall before members go home to campaign.

The Associated General Contractors hailed the president’s proposal.

“The president clearly appreciates that the infrastructure-focused portions of the stimulus were effective in boosting employment and helping rebuild America’s aging infrastructure,” said Associated General Contractors CEO Stephen Sandherr. “And while the most effective sequel to the stimulus is passing a fully funded six-year surface transportation bill, countless thousands of construction workers will have a better chance of retaining their jobs thanks to this proposal than they otherwise would once the stimulus runs its course.

“Like others, we are anxious to learn more details about the President’s proposal, and hope that this proposal receives the bipartisan consideration and support investing in our country’s economic infrastructure ought to merit. After all, the American people are counting on both parties to begin tackling the nation’s $2.2 trillion infrastructure deficit.”
Obama offers $50B infrastructure lifeline to U.S. construction

President Barack Obama on Labor Day sent a strong signal that he’s listening to calls for more government investment in the nation’s crumbling infrastructure – which, as importantly, would put thousands of construction workers back to work.

Speaking to union workers in Milwaukee, Obama called for the spending of more than $50 billion to help rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, airports and railways.

“It doesn’t do anybody any good when so many hard working Americans have been idled, yet so much of America needs rebuilding,” Obama said. “That’s why I am announcing a new plan for rebuilding and modernizing America’s roads and rails and runways for the long term.”

Obama said the plan would build on the $787 billion federal stimulus program he initiated shortly after taking office. A substantial portion of that money went to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Several construction association leaders credited the stimulus with saving tens of thousands of building jobs – and helping to not make the moribund industry worse.

“Over the next six years we are going to rebuild 150,000 miles of our roads – enough to circle the world six times. We’re going to lay and maintain 4,000 miles of our railways – enough to stretch coast to coast. We’re going to restore 150 miles of runways and advance a next-generation air-traffic control system to reduce flight-times and delays for American travelers,” Obama said. “We used to have the best infrastructure in the world. We can have it again. We’re going to make it happen. This will create jobs and make our economy run better over the long haul.”

The spending of $50 billion on infrastructure is only a small down payment on the kind of infrastructure investment this nation needs – but has never had the political will to spend. Obama Administration officials said unlike the stimulus money, this infrastructure spending is aimed at long-term growth, as part of a six-year plan to significantly increase spending on transportation repair work.

Republican leaders, predictably, assailed Obama’s plan as ineffective, saying it would add to the federal deficit, although the president vowed to work with Congress to offset the spending. His initial plans call for eliminating tax breaks for gas and oil companies.

“We don’t need more government stimulus spending,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “We need to end Washington Democrats’ out-of-control spending spree, stop their tax hikes, and create jobs by eliminating the job-killing uncertainty that is hampering our small businesses.”

With Republican opposition, Obama’s plan likely isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It’s an election year, and Congress only has a few weeks of work planned this fall before members go home to campaign.

The Associated General Contractors hailed the president’s proposal.

“The president clearly appreciates that the infrastructure-focused portions of the stimulus were effective in boosting employment and helping rebuild America’s aging infrastructure,” said Associated General Contractors CEO Stephen Sandherr. “And while the most effective sequel to the stimulus is passing a fully funded six-year surface transportation bill, countless thousands of construction workers will have a better chance of retaining their jobs thanks to this proposal than they otherwise would once the stimulus runs its course.

“Like others, we are anxious to learn more details about the President’s proposal, and hope that this proposal receives the bipartisan consideration and support investing in our country’s economic infrastructure ought to merit. After all, the American people are counting on both parties to begin tackling the nation’s $2.2 trillion infrastructure deficit.”