Infrastructure in the News: October 31, 2011

NATIONAL NEWS

Politico: Memo to D.C.: Want jobs? Fund infrastructure

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67176.html 

Yet infrastructure development is key to jump-starting our economy and getting Americans back to work. If the White House and Capitol Hill are serious about fixing our economic and unemployment problems, then an overhaul of infrastructure project review and the creation of a well-capitalized infrastructure bank are absolute priorities.

Houston Chronicle: Nation's seaports ask Congress for new investment

http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Nation-s-seaports-ask-Congress-for-new-investment-2243178.php

As cargo ships get larger and demands on maritime infrastructure grow, more federal investment in modernizing U.S. seaports is essential to avoid losing business to foreign competitors, witnesses told a House panel last week. Jerry Bridges, chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities, an advocacy group for deep-water ports, warned lawmakers that Mexico and Canada were making long-term investments that could see an increase in port traffic for those nations at the expense of American ports.

Indianapolis Star: Nation needs long-term plan to pay for roads

http://www.indystar.com/article/20111031/OPINION01/110310304/Nation-needs-long-term-plan-pay-roads?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cp

Indiana has earned the designation as the Crossroads of America because of its considerable network of roads, bridges and highways. But without a long-term plan for funding the nation's transportation infrastructure, what the state has spent decades building could be in jeopardy.

Washington Post: The case for a large, federal public works program

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-case-for-a-large-federal-public-works-program/2011/10/25/gIQAFQ1NTM_story.html

Many of the most costly and “anti-free market” messes related to U.S. infrastructure are the result of uncoordinated and inconsistent state approaches to the electric grid, telecommunications and natural gas distribution. Mr. Edwards’s call for a bigger state role ignores this and the closely related fact that interest group domination at the state level is far greater than interest group power in Washington.