Dodd, Himes say Infrastructure is an Investment in Future
RECOVERY
Norwalk Hour
Tait Militana
Boston University Washington News Service
Feb 04, 2009
WASHINGTON –The White House estimates that more than 40,000 jobs would be created in Connecticut by the $900 billion stimulus package but Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. Jim Himes, D-4 say that may not be enough.
Both urged Congress to commit more money to infrastructure projects in the state. Improving the local infrastructure is critical to keeping the state economically competitive, they said.
“It’s one that ought to be a no brainer,” Dodd said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “Particularly in a state like ours with congested highways, providing resources to develop alternative means of transit in the corridors as well as the feeder lines, will be very important to us.”
In the House version of the stimulus bill, which passed last week, Connecticut would receive nearly $600 million for infrastructure improvements, including $400 million for highways and bridges and $70 million for transit.
Both Himes and Dodd said they were wary of White House data on the number of jobs the stimulus bill will create. Dodd said with the state losing 125,000 jobs last year, 44,000 new jobs does not seem to help that much. However, if it means 44,000 jobs are saved, that is a positive step.
“I think we need to keep eye on the goal of this bill,” Himes said. “Creating jobs and slowing the rate Americans lose them – I will judge the package by the extent it will do that.”
Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council, said Tuesday that the White House stimulus package could create up to 44,000 jobs in Connecticut, the majority of which would be in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
“The program will include the largest investment in the backbone of the American economy, our basic infrastructure—roads, transit, broadband, schools—since the interstate highway system,” Summers said in a meeting with reporters in the Old Executive Office Building.
Himes said when it comes to infrastructure, transit is the most important issue facing Norwalk and Fairfield County, but there are issues with government buildings and utilities that cannot be ignored.
“The schools are crumbling and the sewage systems are not up to snuff,” Himes said in a telephone interview. “I am happy it [the stimulus package] will help us upgrade and improve our standard of living while creating jobs.”
To best support these proposed projects, Dodd called for money to be directed straight to municipalities. He said towns and cities know the needs of their communities better than the state government.
“My experience has been that if you can get money directly to your local governments you do very well,” Dodd said. “They are more likely to have shovel-ready projects.”
According to the United States Conference of Mayors, which met in Washington last month, there are more than $150 billion in shovel ready projects nationwide, including $180 million in Norwalk. The Senate is working on the stimulus bill which Republicans say has too much spending and not enough tax cuts. Democratic leaders say they hope to finish the bill and have something to President Obama by the end of next week.
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