Mayors Take Conference of Mayors "MainStreet" Stimulus to Congress

On Wednesday October 29, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson led the witness list at the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This Committee designed and packaged the House-passed stimulus in September. And from what Minnesota Chairman Oberstar said in his opening remarks, his Committee will be the main source for the next stimulus package that is expected to be on the House floor after the election next week and before Thanksgiving.

Oberstar was quite strong in his opening remarks as he stated that this Congress would not lament and stand on the sidelines as the economy goes deeper into crisis. He said his Committee would not sit on the sidelines and watch things go downhill. He said as soon as the hearings are over, committee staff will put together the mix of proposals for action after Congress come back to town.

Chairman Oberstar commended Mayor Abramson for his "spirited" presentation.
Jerry Abramson as a wide breadth of experience as Mayor of Louisville and our past President during the Clinton years. He knows how to put allies together for any battle and campaign and he wins because he articulates his vision with brilliant narratives about how things actually work on Main Street America.

Today he has a new metro city, the 16th largest in the nation. The economic activity covers Louisville and Jefferson County. When you talk metro economies, they don't come any better than Abramson. He talks it and he walks it. What he does every day--and he works it 24-7--has significant economic role to both Kentucky and Indiana because his "little ole River City" as he affectionately calls it, sits on the river dividing the two states. His economic footprint includes the economic activity that comes across the bridges of the bordering Hoosiers in several Indiana counties. Over the bridges, they come to Louisville to work, spend money shopping and for cultural, sports and entertainment activities.
Abramson centered on three points--the need for Community Development Block grant funds and the need for a Green Jobs initiative through Energy/Environment Block grants providing immediate funds for short term investments in cities, counties and states. Further, Abramson was adamant about the highway funds being distributed through the current Surface Transportation program to allow maximum flexibility for local elected officials to tailor programs to meet needs at the local level.

Oregon Congressman Fazio explained that the last stimulus, passed in September, would have given all the highway money to the States because it was the consensus that states could activate ready to go projects faster. Mayor Abramson came back at him arguing that cities and counties through the metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are ready to go now. He challenged the statement that states could do it faster. He also stressed the need to keep our metro economies strong to keep the national economy from worsening even further in the months ahead.

While Mayor Abramson was at the Transportation and Infrastructure hearing, Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer was in the midst of a rather turbulent hearing before the other power Committee--Ways and Means.

Everybody woke up when the Governor of South Carolina, appearing for the Governors, proclaimed the great State of South Carolina didn't need any stimulus money. It was astonishing because all we have heard from every credible economic expert is about the "cash-strapped" states. The phrase "cash-strapped states" have been in so many headlines recently and the images through Governors proclamations of extreme concern gave the Committee Chairman, our friend, NY Congressman Rangel, the opportunity to ask Governor Sanford if the people of South Carolina even needed unemployment benefits. The SC Governor stressed the need to abolish unfunded federal mandates. Gov. Sanford's comments did not jibe with the Governor of New York who is going through hellacious budget issues in Albany. And Governor Corzine, appearing with Abramson in the other Committee was giving total support to an immediate stimulus package.

Mayor Palmer was third to speak. The Governors in their opening statements quoted great poets. When it came time for Palmer to speak, he opened saying he wanted to quote another great poet, Mr. John Lennon of Beatles songwriting fame, wrote, "Help! I need somebody!" It brought great laughter and amusement from the crowd packed Committee hearing room and CNN was running the accounts of this poetic statement before Palmer finished his statement. Doug Palmer was the perfect witness in the perfect and devastating economic storm hitting Main Street USA now. If ever there was a better candidate to talk about our Main Street stimulus, it was the Mayor of Trenton who is going through budget cuts and layoffs now due to the cuts at the State House in Trenton. He is street smart. He knows what is happening on Main Street. He lives with it. Further, his agile and mobile mind and understanding of the nation's mayors needs as an immediate past- president and architect our Mayors 08 Ten Point Plan all served him and all of us well at this most important Congressional Hearing. .

Palmer made the point that our Main Street stimulus package is different from the recent House-passed bill because it contains a CDBG initiative, a Green Jobs initiative and the use of the STP program is a smarter way to invest highways monies.

The nation is now focusing on the election this Tuesday. And the need for the stimulus investment initiative will be front and center when the Congress returns on November 17.

While there is the excitement of a new President, mayors must not lose sight of the work that we must do as we demand the next stimulus package must be the Main Street stimulus package so boldly and well presented by Mayors Abramson and Palmer this week.

Soon all mayors in the nation will be receiving 50 hard copies from me sent directly to your office. Talk to you members of the House and Senate who will be returning to Congress on Nov 17. Also share our recommendations contained in our Main Street stimulus with City Council members, local media, business, non-profit and civic leaders now.

A survey should be in City Hall now--requesting your recommendations as to projects that will be funded through our Main Street stimulus funds. It is important that you get that information back to us by November 7.

Thanks for your attention and support as we go forward. Together we can make a difference to lessen the worsening economic conditions for you and your city during this national economic challenge before us.