Reid urges mayors to back projects

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001 | 9:31 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., today launched another offensive to pressure President Bush to create hundreds of thousands of jobs by approving transportation and infrastructure construction projects.

Reid mobilized mayors in a speech today to the United States Conference of Mayors, urging them to wield their lobbying influence on Capitol Hill and at the White House.

"A mayor, more than any elected official, understands the importance of getting back to work," Reid told some of the 200 mayors, police and emergency managers gathered here. "The importance of not recoiling from our duty, even as evil forces try to divert us from this work, must be paramount."

At issue is legislation in Congress designed to stimulate the economy. President Bush favors a package of nearly all tax cuts, and the House today appeared ready to approve a $100 billion measure that included mostly tax cuts.

That would set up a showdown with Senate Democrats such as Reid, who argue for a three-pronged approach that includes tax cuts, extended unemployment and health care benefits for laid-off workers and job-creating construction projects.

"We need to hear that while tax cuts are important, they do little for an American out of work," Reid said.

Reid backs a plan that includes more than $30 billion for highway infrastructure, transit projects, rail improvements including new high-speed trains, airport construction and port projects. Reid repeatedly stresses 42,000 jobs are created for every $1 billion spent.

The nation's mayors today vowed to pressure their lawmakers. They want the jobs in their cities.

"Projects like this matter for the Gary, Indianas, of the world," Gary Mayor Scott King said.