Obama Plans Largest Building Program Since 1950s

[jtwestside]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&refer=worldwide&sid=aBcPiaRqqffg

Obama Plans Largest Building Program Since 1950s (Update1)

By Hans Nichols

Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama said he’ll make the “single largest new investment” in roads, bridges and public buildings since the Eisenhower Administration to lift the sagging economy and create jobs.

Obama, in his weekly radio speech today, said his plan to create or preserve 2.5 million jobs will also include making public buildings more energy efficient, repairing schools and modernizing health care with electronic medical records.

“We won’t just throw money at the problem,” he said. “We’ll measure progress by the reforms we make and the results we achieve -- by the jobs we create, by the energy we save, by whether America is more competitive in the world.”

Obama spoke a day after a government report showed employers in the U.S. slashed 533,000 jobs last month, the biggest decline in 34 years. The losses are “another painful reminder of the serious economic challenge our country is facing,” Obama said.

The speech offered the first details of Obama’s job- creation program. He said the investment in infrastructure will be the largest since President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the interstate highway system a half-century ago.

“When Congress reconvenes in January, I look forward to working with them to pass a plan immediately,” he said. Obama takes office as the 44th president on Jan. 20.

Congressional Democrats

With the economy heading toward the longest and deepest recession since World War II, pressure is rising for a spending program that will create new jobs. Congressional Democrats have said they will send Obama an economic stimulus package as soon as he takes office. New York Senator Charles Schumer late last month put the size of such a program at between $500 billion and $700 billion.

In addition to investing in infrastructure, requiring energy standards on public buildings and updating health-care practices, Obama said that he will start a “sweeping effort to modernize and upgrade school buildings” and will boost broadband access across America.

To the states that will be the conduits for the funding, he had a simple message: “use it or lose it.”

“If a state doesn’t act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they’ll lose the money,” he said.

Obama’s plan to make public buildings more energy efficient should reduce the government’s energy bill, which he called the highest in the world. He plans to replace heating systems and install energy-efficient light bulbs.

Internet Upgrade

Obama also plans to upgrade Internet infrastructure, calling it “unacceptable that the United States ranks 15th in the world in broadband adoption.”

Upgrading health care is the final component of the plan. By introducing new technology and electronic medical records, he said health-care workers could “prevent medical mistakes, and help save billions of dollars each year.”

Obama, in Chicago for the weekend, has no public events scheduled for today. Tomorrow, he will mark the anniversary of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor with a news conference in Chicago, according to a statement from his transition team.

Obama will announce his choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs at the news conference, according to a Democratic aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

To contact the reporter on this story: Hans Nichols in Chicago at hnichols2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 6, 2008 15:12 EST

[Lunican]

http://www.youtube.com/v/iGpIT2bVZDw&hl=en&fs=1

[heights unknown]

Hope he knows where all the money is going to come from to initiate all of these things on his "shopping list."  Anyway, sounds good on paper.

Heights Unknown

[thelakelander]

After attending meetings, meetings and more meetings about the need for increased mass transit funding, I wonder if we'll ever get past the "talking a good game" stage.  In any event, I can't say this isn't unexpected.  But it may be another missed opportunity to create a more livable Jacksonville.  It will be interesting to see what type of projects our peer cities end up pushing for.

Jacksonville's mayor wants to get projects attached to federal infrastructure program.

In addition to relying on local funding, I will be working with congressional leaders to seek federal funding under the much-talked-about federal economic stimulus plan.

President-elect Barack Obama has announced a two-year plan to save or create more than 2.5 million jobs, specifically mentioning the need to put Americans to work rebuilding roads and infrastructure.

I believe that with strong advocacy on the part of our delegation, Jacksonville will be able to benefit from this plan, creating both necessary infrastructure improvements and jobs.

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2008-12-07/peyton_adjust_to_new_realities

[heights unknown]

The $100 Million Peyton is seeking for infrastructure improvement, is this possibly coming from the Obama plan to improve national infrastructure, transportation, highways, etc.? Or is Peyton planning on increasing the bed tax, or sales taxes in Duval County?

"Heights"

[MattnJax]

This is something the country desperately needs right now. I have faith our elected officials will fight hard to secure funds for Northeast Florida. We're a gateway to one of the most important States in the Union, and a strategic military center. We stand to benefit from this.

[Joe]

We won’t just throw money at the problem,” he said. “We’ll measure progress by the reforms we make and the results we achieve -- by the jobs we create, by the energy we save, by whether America is more competitive in the world.”

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how this is anything other than throwing money at a problem.

A broadband expansion is nothing more than a vanity project. We don't NEED broadband usage rates that compare to countries with 2% of our total land area. This is more along the lines of an emotional, feel-good policy, rather than any kind of useful economic engine.

I don't think I need to remind people - on this forum of all places - why additional investment in our bloated interstate highway system is an awful idea.

Making public buildings energy efficient and repairing old bridges sounds like a nice idea. But it could be done well, or it could be done poorly. Only time will tell which happens. It would indeed be "throwing money at the problem" if we start replacing our old bridges with over-engineered monstrosities that cost 5x what they should - all in the pursuit of enhanced traffic flow.

[RiversideGator]

Think of all the new jobs Obama will create installing compact fluorescent light bulb in public buildings.   

That is very weak.

[Lunican]

Public buildings already have fluorescent bulbs.

[Charleston native]

Not compact, energy-efficient ones.

[Lunican]

Are you joking?

[Charleston native]

I just don't care.

[RiversideGator]

Public buildings already have fluorescent bulbs.

It was a joke.  The point is "greening" public buildings will have no tangible positive effect on the economy.  Anyone who believes this might also believe that you can run cars on dandelions.  It is really a concept worthy of ridicule.

[thelakelander]

So is it safe to assume that you won't be investing in double flush toilets any time soon?

[jtwestside]

So is it safe to assume that you won't be investing in double flush toilets any time soon?

I already flush my toilets twice for the heck of it.