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Obama Calls for an Increase in Infrastructure Funding

Christine Detz |
August 31, 2011 | 1:38 p.m. PDT

Associate News Editor

 

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons
Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons
President Obama called for an increase in infrastructure spending on Wednesday.  The president urged Congress to pass temporary funding bills for aviation and highway projects nationwide.

Obama chastised the Congress for moving slowly according to a Reuters report.

“At a time when a lot of people in Washington are talking about creating jobs, it's time to stop political gamesmanship that could cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs,” Obama said.

A law funding airport construction projects is set to expire on Sept. 16 and a law allowing the use of gasoline taxes to fund road construction projects expires on Sept. 30.

House Speaker John Boehner accused the president of using scare tactics.

“Aside from the president today, no one has suggested the highway bill will be allowed to expire," said Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck told Reuters. "Republicans support an extension of the highway bill and appreciate the need for a long-term solution for infrastructure projects.”

An increase in infrastructure spending would give a much-needed boost to the nation’s job sector, the Financial Times reports.

The White House also announced plans for the president to give an economic policy address to a joint session of Congress on Sept. 7.



 

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