this is a good idea

Democrats promise boost for road building

WASHINGTON – Top Democrats hope to add $25 billion in highway and mass transit funds to President Barack Obama's economic recovery program, despite complaints from lawmakers in both parties that the legislation already is too expensive.

"Our highways are jammed. People go to work in gridlock," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Tuesday as she and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., advanced their proposal.

Senate debate unfolded as Obama issued another call for swift action on the measure, urging lawmakers to act "with the same sense of urgency Americans feel every day."

The proposed increase in highway funding would raise spending to $40 billion, reflecting complaints from lawmakers in both parties that Obama's plan doesn't do enough to relieve a backlog of unfinished projects. Mass transit programs would get a $5 billion boost, while water projects would get $7 billion more.

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If we take out some of the nonsensical repug-oriented tax breaks and add more infrastructure spending, this helps everyone. The country is repaired and people are put to work - win-win. Seems like a no-brainer, until you get obstructionists in the room, like repugs who think that tax cuts are the be-all and end-all to governing.