Building America’s Future Meets with President Obama

***IN CASE YOU MISSED IT***

Building America’s Future Meets with President Obama

Discuss Infrastructure Investment, Economy, Highway Reauthorization Act

Washington, DC –Today, Building America’s Future met with President Barack Obama to discuss our nation’s infrastructure, the economy and the highway reauthorization act. Immediately following, the co‐chairs – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA), Governor Ed Rendell (PA) and Mayor Michael Bloomberg (NYC) – held a media availability in the White House portico. 

At the meeting, President Barack Obama’s made opening remarks (VIDEO): “I am thrilled to have three of the most innovative elected officials in the country representing not only a wide range of political spectrums, but also different states, different responsibilities, all of whom are concerned about the issue of our infrastructure and how we develop the long‐term prosperity that's going to be so important for America's success.”

President Obama also announced new rules for stimulus spending: Mr. Obama said the initiatives that will get priority must show they can create jobs or provide other "enduring benefits to the American people." 

Following the meeting, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a news release:

“Not only would greater, sustained investment in our nation’s ailing infrastructure create jobs immediately, it would also establish long‐term economic competitiveness, address our environmental needs, and enhance the quality of life across our nation,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. Also after the meeting, the co‐chairs held a media availability at the White House (VIDEO‐Part 1 and VIDEO‐Part 2):

Response to the meeting:

Governor Ed Rendell (PA): “We're dedicated to seeing that this country starts a long‐term plan to revitalize its infrastructure… The President was tremendously responsive. At the end of the meeting, he turned to his staff and said ‘let’s get to work.’ We are enormously encouraged by his response and we thought it was a great meeting.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (NYC): “This is about the future of our country, whether transportation, water or all the things we need to invest in now so our children and grandchildren have a future... We have to make sure that we have the infrastructure so we have a future so we can compete. If you look back in history, great advances whether the canals or railroads in Lincoln’s time or what Roosevelt did or Eisenhower with the national highway system. This is the time to think boldly and bring the change about that this country needs. I think we have a new President with the enthusiasm and  intellect. He understands we have to work together, work with congress and the three of us pledge we will do everything we can to make sure he gets it support he needs and the help.”

Economic Prosperity and Jobs 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA): “I think, in order to be competitive economically – we are the number one nation economically and the most powerful nation all the way around – so to keep that position, I think that we have to do much better on infrastructure. Whether its transportation, high speed rail, rebuilding bridges and tunnels and on‐ramps, off‐ramps, energy, renewable energy, the list goes on and on. We wanted to let the President know that we are 100% behind him on this issue and we’ll go out and sell this to the American people, because I think there’s a tremendous demand… Not only does it help us to make our economy function better, but it helps us in creating jobs.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (NYC): “[Infrastructure] is going to put people to work. We have to understand, there are a lot of people in this country losing their jobs… We have to get people working today, but we will continue to have problems in terms of supporting a growing population unless we make those big kinds of [infrastructure] investments now.”

Infrastructure bank

Governor Ed Rendell (PA): “There was a poll that showed the American people were overwhelmingly willing to pay 1% more in federal taxes if they could get infrastructure revitalized – but only if it was done in an accountable way. The infrastructure bank, we believe strongly, is the answer to that… We told the President that what he has done is a good start, but we have to find a way, using every funding aspect that's out there, every funding proposal to fund the infrastructure bank at a greater level…”