Obama renews push for $50-billion 'roads, railways and runways' program

[pinto]

"More than half of the new jobs would come in construction, where unemployment figures are now higher than 17 percent, according to the report."

Obama renews push for $50-billion 'roads, railways and runways' program

The president says the plan will boost the economy at a needed time and notes GOP opposition in a 'season of choices.'

By Christi Parsons, Tribune Washington Bureau
October 11, 2010|8:51 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Obama made a new pitch for his $50-billion "roads, railways and runways" program Monday morning, saying the need to upgrade the nation's infrastructure capacity is critical and that American competitiveness in the 21st century depends upon swift action.

Clogged roads, airways and other infrastructure chip away at worker productivity, Obama said, and the longer the country waits to fix it, "the deeper our competitive edge erodes."

Speaking to reporters in the Rose Garden, Obama pitched the plan almost entirely in terms of its benefit to the economy -- though he also alluded to the politics of the moment, noting the steadfast Republican opposition to most of his current plans.

<snip>

Earlier Monday, the administration issued a new report estimating the spending program would create a raft of new middle-class jobs in manufacturing, construction and retail and thereby help boost the economy. More than half of the new jobs would come in construction, where unemployment figures are now higher than 17 percent, according to the report.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/sc-dc-obama-infrastructure-20101011,0,703719.story

[bluestateguy]

1. Good idea. Is there a way to get this enacted?

Or is there a way to use budgetary gimmicks to do an end run around Congress.

[pinto]

2. Not sure. Sen. McConnell (R - KY) seems bent on obstruction.

:shrug:

[bluestateguy]

3. That's why I was asking

I don't wish to burst anyone's balloon here, but as far as legislation is concerned, Obama is just about done, until and unless he gets a second term and then there would be another window in 2013 and part of 2014.

Even if Democrats hold both houses, they will be very narrow majorities, enough for the DLCers to screw everything up.

That's why I was wondering if perhaps they could find a way to do this w/Congress.

[Brickbat]

4. It would help, but it's not anywhere near enough for our infrastrucutre.

[HillbillyBob]

5. I would like to see some of the empty factories reopened

even if its a different product made, something 'green' like solar panels or bamboo flooring, hemp fabrics.

There is a company in Vermont that makes furniture finishes from whey left over from making cheese.
I have seen furniture finished with it and it looks very nice. I am a retired restorer as well as electrician, I might even be able to get back to work, as is the old chems trigger my seizures..its hard to work when you keep falling in the floor and flopping about and it takes at the least several hours to regroup.

Bamboo seems a good choice as there are several kinds of items that can be made from Moso timber bamboo. Its fairly easy to grow and keep contained Its a clumping variety. The new shoots are edible as in what you see in cans in the market, it can be laminated into very strong flooring, and wall studs. It also can be made into rayon, like the clothes that are on the market now.
It is cold hardy to zone 4 I think, but does not reach the full 70feet north of zone 7.

NC has some high tech with Cree LED chip company, I do believe they are made here.
A lot of tobacco farmers are going out of business, these fields would yield a lot of hemp. strip the leaves onto the field and keep the stem for fiber, seeds pressed for oil. mm bio diesel.

[Scurrilous]

6. K & R

:thumbsup: