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Elect President Who Will Repair Infrastructure

Written by Bettie J. Reina

Sunday, 02 March 2008

The Daily Journal

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/OPINION03/803030349/1014/NEWS17

A bipartisan group of governors, including Gov. Jon S. Corzine, met with President Bush to request increased spending on the nation's deteriorating roads and bridges to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Although projects worth tens of billions of dollars are ready to begin, Bush said the money wouldn't be spent fast enough.

He also wants to see how his stimulus package works, although no money will enter the economy until after submitted tax formsare processed. Meanwhile, New Jersey is one of 21 states facing a combined budget shortfall of $36 billion for 2009.

Granted, the irresponsible behavior of elected New Jersey officials, many no longer in office, have put us in a precarious financial position. However, what about the reduction in money previously received from Washington to cover federally mandated programs?

No administration in recent history has cut funding like the Bush administration. Medicaid, No Child Left Behind, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, Homeland Security, the Individuals with Disabilities Act and the EPA are all mandates for which states continue to lose federal funding.

The governors say they will turn to Congress, although we can expect no help while it continues to be thwarted by a Republican minority. Incidentally, Sen. Barack Obama has said that if elected he will spend $60 billion on roads, bridges and other public infrastructure over the next 10 years, just one of the many reasons I support him.

We must elect a president who will spend our money repairing our infrastructure instead of destroying Iraq's.

Bettie J. Reina

Milmay

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