WASHINGTON — A bevy of governors, mayors and interest groups found sympathetic ears on Capitol Hill — even from some Republicans — for ambitious plans to build roads and water and sewer projects, extend jobless benefits and help states cope with multibillion-dollar budget shortfalls.
“Every billion dollars in spending on infrastructure, on highway and transportation expenditures, does result in 35,000 new jobs,” said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., at a hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Before another panel, New York Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, said: “The cruel irony is that at the time when citizens need their state governments the most, state governments are least equipped to help them because of plummeting revenues.” The Associated Press
