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Related: About this forumObama Administration on Idle Earmark Projects: Use It or Lose It “We Can’t Wait” Action Helps States
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
August 17, 2012
Obama Administration on Idle Earmark Projects: Use It or Lose It We Cant Wait Action Helps States Put People to Work, Improve Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, DC The Obama Administration today announced that it wont allow infrastructure funds to sit idle as a result of stalled earmark projects at a time when hundreds of thousands of construction workers are looking for work. U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is making over $470 million in unspent earmarks immediately available to states for projects that will create jobs and help improve transportation across the country.
My administration will continue to do everything we can to put Americans back to work, said President Barack Obama. Were not going to let politics stand between construction workers and good jobs repairing our roads and bridges.
We are freeing up these funds so states can get down to the business of moving transportation projects forward and putting our friends and neighbors back to work, said Secretary LaHood.
President Obama has vowed to veto any bill that comes to his desk with earmarks and would support legislation to permanently ban earmarks. But $473 million in highway earmarks from FY2003-2006 appropriations acts remain unspent years later. Those acts contain provisions that authorize the Secretary to make the unused funds available for eligible surface transportation projects. Effective today, state departments of transportation will have the ability to use their unspent earmarked highway funds, some of which are nearly 10 years old, on any eligible highway, transit, passenger rail, or port project.
States must identify the projects they plan to use the funds for by October 1, and must obligate them by December 31, 2012.
Particularly in these difficult fiscal times, states will be able to put these dollars to good use, said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. These funds will create jobs in the short term and help bring about what President Obama called an America built to last.
To ensure that this funding is quickly put to good use to improve our nations infrastructure, funds not obligated by the December 31 deadline will be proportionally redistributed in FY 2013 to states that met the deadline.
A list of available funds by state can be accessed: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/redisfy0306earmarks.htm
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/17/obama-administration-idle-earmark-projects-use-it-or-lose-it-we-can-t-wa
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Obama Administration on Idle Earmark Projects: Use It or Lose It “We Can’t Wait” Action Helps States (Original Post)
Tx4obama
Aug 2012
OP
I can see the Thug governors stalling now. They want the economy in the toilet.
appleannie1
Aug 2012
#2
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)1. This sounds excellent!!
I hope a lot jobs are created and a lot of work gets done. Can't wait to see how the rethugs deal with it.
appleannie1
(5,067 posts)2. I can see the Thug governors stalling now. They want the economy in the toilet.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)3. Thanks for the post..
summerschild
(725 posts)4. GREAT NEWS! Wish it had been earlier!