November 15, 2008 Newsletter

In this issue:

Happy Holidays From Congressman Oberstar

Oberstar Proposes Jobs Stimulus Bill

Pawlenty Says "NO" to Jobs Stimulus Bill

Happy Holidays From Congressman Oberstar

Dear Friends,

My warmest and sincerest wishes to you and your family this holiday season and my enduring gratitude for your continued support. I am honored and humbled by your vote of confidence and look forward to another opportunity to serve you in Congress.

This is a transformational moment in our history embodied by a grassroots movement that each and every one of you helped to shape. We meet this New Year with a renewed sense of hope and optimism for the future of America.

Today we celebrate a New Direction for America and begin a new era of leadership that invests in working families, rebuilds the American Dream, and restores our moral authority in the world community. We know our challenges will be great but so is the strength and character of the American people.

Together we will:

• Honor our veterans, bring peace to Iraq, and bring our troops home.
• Expand our economy and create good paying jobs right here at home.
• Invest in our transportation infrastructure and move our people and goods to market efficiently.
• Develop a 21st century energy policy to reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

In the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee we have made dramatic progress, enacting 96 bills into law. Next year I will author the next surface transportation bill that will build and repair our nation’s roads and bridges over the next 6 years and invest in inter-city rail. I look forward to working with you on projects that are important here in Minnesota.

I am excited about the possibilities and opportunities ahead knowing I have your support, your confidence, and your counsel. Together we will put America back on the right path and once again make the American Dream a reality.

Thank You!

James L. Oberstar, M.C.

Oberstar Proposes Jobs Stimulus Bill

Congressman Oberstar has submitted to the Democratic leadership and incoming Obama Administration an economic stimulus bill aimed at creating 1.3 million jobs in our economy and generating an additional $223 million in economic activity.

"This is a quick start program to create real jobs, American jobs, jobs that won't be out-sourced to Bangalore India, or South Korea, or Formosa, or Taiwan, or any other place in the world. It will be done with American workers, members of these locals," Oberstar said at a Duluth press conference with a backdrop of local union members.

In Minnesota alone, this plan would mean $536 million, including $293 million for 30 highway and bridge projects. The proposal could put over 7,000 people to work in Minnesota in the next 90 to 120 days maintaining and upgrading our roads and bridges.

The proposal would also mean over $9 billion for environmental infrastructure, including projects aimed at cleaning contaminated sites and modernizing water sanitation systems.

It will provide some relief for local governments’ capital programs, allowing for delayed improvements in municipal buildings that many cities have had to delay due to budget shortfalls.

On a state level, Minnesota currently faces an estimated $5.2 billion revenue shortfall and a Federal Government stimulus could help the state better cover its budget obligations.

Oberstar is confident that he will have a bill ready for President Obama to sign just days after he takes office.

Pawlenty Says "NO" to Jobs Stimulus Bill

Despite the faltering economy, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has remained cool to the idea of a job stimulus. At a National Governors Association meeting earlier this month, Pawlenty expressed skepticism about the need for a job stimulus, taking a position “closer to Republican leaders in Congress than to some Republican governors,” according to the Star Tribune.

Throughout his tenure as governor, Pawlenty has cut funding for education and healthcare while neglecting federally-funded opportunities in transportation infrastructure investments. While Minnesota’s families are struggling to make ends meet, Pawlenty has cut income taxes for the wealthiest Minnesotans, shifting the tax burden of schools and roads to working families in the form of higher property taxes.

When many Minnesota municipalities face budget shortfalls, this proposal could provide relief for local governments’ capital programs, enabling delayed projects--like improving libraries and roads--finally to be completed.

Pawlenty is ignoring the key role that public infrastructure investment played in ending the Great Depression. He also fails to recognize the economic importance of maintaining our Interstate Highway system--or recognize the dividends our highways continue to pay today.

While efforts to help us emerge from the recession must come from both the public and private sector, any plan must include a way to put jobless Americans back to work quickly. Oberstar’s proposal does just that, and we hope Gov. Pawlenty will support this bill in its final form.