Today, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) and his Republican colleagues on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee highlighted the failure of the stimulus to address to deliver job creation to those states with the highest unemployment. Following the event, Brown made the following statement:
"Another month of disappointing unemployment numbers and sluggish economic indicators has created a bitter pill that the people of South Carolina are having great difficulty in swallowing. This prescription, crafted by Congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration, has failed to offer relief to the working class Americans who need it the most.
My constituents and folks throughout the Palmetto State are asking, "Where are the jobs?" The promises of increased employment and improved infrastructure are ringing hollow in their ears. Precious little money has been spent in South Carolina despite the fact it has the third highest unemployment in the nation. South Carolina has only been able to spend some $400,000 of the $463 million in highway funding in the stimulus. That's nine one-hundredths of one percent.
The red tape tied to federal money is not only preventing states from moving forward with projects and creating jobs, but is preventing them from spending money on projects that will have long-lasting impact. Instead of dedicating stimulus dollars towards construction projects like I-73, a megaproject that will support over 30,000 South Carolina jobs during construction and will provide important new Interstate connections, millions in South Carolina will have to be spent on painting road lines and pouring sidewalks.
Infrastructure investment does create jobs, but we are seeing that ability get wrapped up in miles of red tape - instead of workers constructing miles of new and badly needed highways. The hard-working people of South Carolina who are dealing with 12 percent unemployment deserve an explanation. "
During the event, Brown and his colleagues highlighted the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, which was replaced within just 437 days - a far cry from the federal red tape clogging up stimulus projects. According to Brown, the current economic crisis demands we adopt a 437 Day Plan for other projects across the nation.