Goodman urges Bush to finance projects

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 | 9:13 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman on Wednesday joined three other mayors pressuring President Bush to approve massive new transportation construction projects as part of an economic stimulus package under discussion.

Lawmakers in Congress and White House officials are debating the best way to jumpstart the ailing economy.

Bush favors an emphasis on tax cuts; Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is pushing for more than $30 billion in new spending on capital projects, such as highway and airport construction, bridge renovation, train lines and marine terminals.

Mayors from Atlanta, Gary, Ind., and Salt Lake City joined Goodman backing the projects at a press conference. They said the federal money would strengthen urban America at a time when unemployment is rising.

"We need this. We need it now. Tax cuts are not going to rebuild America alone," Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell said.

Goodman said federal money could be spent on the proposed Strip-to-downtown monorail route; widening Interstate 15; investing in a proposed Las Vegas-Anaheim magnetic levitation train; and water projects.

"These projects are ready to go," Goodman said. "Everything in Las Vegas can be done tomorrow if we had the money."