President Obama continues to stump for transportation infrastructure. In remarks on Oct. 11, he repeated his call for higher federal spending to rebuild highways, rails and airport runways. Construction officials welcome Obama’s attention to public works, though they still seek more details, including how much total spending he wants. But the White House is not likely to provide many specifics before 2011, when a new Congress convenes.
Obama said, “Our infrastructure is woefully inefficient, and it is outdated.” Noting that the U.S. spends less on public works than China, Russia and other countries, he declared, “We can no longer afford to sit still.” His remarks followed a meeting on infrastructure with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Govs. Edward Rendell (D-Pa.) and Jack Markell (D-Del.), former Transportation Secretaries Norman Mineta and Samuel Skinner, and eight mayors.