Op-Eds

07/11/09

The Washington Post

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Post asked economists and politicians to weigh in. Below are contributions from Alice Rivlin, Robert Reischauer, Donna Edwards, John Boehner, Mark Zandi, Martin Feldstein, Dino Kos, Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Lanny Davis.

Click here to read all of the contributions.


DONNA F. EDWARDS

Democratic representative from Maryland

After President Obama took office, inheriting the worst economy since the Depression, Congress moved quickly to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion stimulus package of project funding and tax cuts that extended unemployment and provided health-care, job training and other relief for millions of Americans hit by the recession. There was great debate about the size, scope and character of the package. In Maryland and other states, we are getting contracts out, and jobs are being created. Only five months in, with the bulk of funding still to be disbursed, it is disingenuous for critics to call the package a failure. This bill has helped pull the economy out of free fall.

Now it's time to stabilize and create more jobs. The fact is we may need to do more. We must leave all options on the table, including the possibility of legislation that focuses entirely on job creation by funding many more shovel-ready transportation, water and sewer infrastructure projects -- sure-fire job creators. After decades of disinvestment, there is no such thing as too much investment in our nation's ailing infrastructure. In Maryland, Recovery Act funding supports 220 transportation and 95 water infrastructure projects that are employing more than 13,000 workers. More projects are ready to go if additional money becomes available, here and in other states.

Even in the absence of a second stimulus package, the goals of immediate job creation and infrastructure investment could be achieved through the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2009. This important legislation should not be delayed further.

If unemployment continues to rise even as more Recovery Act funds are distributed, we have an obligation to our constituents to take more aggressive action, explain why, and be measured and smart about what is needed.