MSNBC-TV (Press Conference): Gov. Schwarzenegger, Mayor Bloomberg, Ed Rendell Discuss Their BAF Meeting With President Obama (VIDEO at http://www.youtube.com/bafinfrastructure)
NORAH O’DONNELL: now, we go live to the white house. let's listen in.
GOV. ED RENDELL: we are the board of directors of an organization called building for the future. it's nonpartisan, one republican, one democrat, one independent. we have with us, today, our executive director. it's funded with a grant from the rockefeller foundation and we're dedicated to seeing this country starts a long term plan to revitalize the structure. we believe the stimulus program was step one, very, very important. we think it's important the president's budget be passed. it has an infrastructure. high speed rail, it has energy components in it that are crucial. the infrastructure impacts economic development, but it's the best weapon in changing the way we do infrastructure and getting a cleaner environment for all of us. we talked about many things and delivered a message to the president and a great team of cabinet members and advisors. one, we want it had white house to take control of this issue and the president had to step forward and take leadership of the issue and tell the congress what transformational aspects were in it. two, the infrastructure the president endorsed and put in the budget is essential. there was a poll that showed the american people were overwhelmingly willing to pay 1% more in federal taxes if they could get infrastructure revitalized. only if it was done in an accountable way. the infrastructure bank, we believe strongly is the answer to that. thirdly, we said to the president, what he has done is a good start, but we have to find a way, using every funding aspect that's out there, every funding proposal to frund the infrastructure at a greater level, the $25 billion the president suggested. you all know the american society of civil engineers says we have a $2.2 trillion infrastructure debt meaning in the next five years we have to spend that to maintain what we have. if we keep doing business as usual, we spend $1.1 billion, so there's at least $1.1 billion deficit we have to reach. we suggest funding alternatives including private, public partnerships and individual citizens to invest. a whole array of things. the president was tremendously responsive. at the end of the meeting he turned to staff and said let's get to work. we are encouraged by his response. we thought it was a great meeting. governor arnold schwarzenegger.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: thank you very much. we had a terrific meeting. california made the biggest investment in infrastructure. we made a commitment in$2006 to invest $42 million on infrastructure, it's because we have fallen behind. the same thing is, of course, the case nationwide. the last four decades, we have not kicked up infrastructure. maybe spent $900 billion to $1 trillion in the next five years. in order to keep up with the demand. i think, in order to be competitive economically we are the number one nation economically and the most powerful nation all the way around. to keep that decision, we have to do better in the infrastructure, whether in transportation, high speed rails, rebuilding bridges and tunnels and onramps, off ramps. when it comes to renewable energy, the list goes on and on. let the president know, we are 100% behind him on this, to go out and sell this to the american people. there's a tremendous demand. i think it's important now. not only does it help us to make our economy function better, but helps us in creating jobs. as you know, in california there's a 10.5% unemployment rate. this created jobs. so, i am excited to be here and excited about the fact that president obama is interested in listening, is interested in rebuilding america. this is why we are so happy our partnership is putting the spotlight on this issue. i want to hand it over to major bloomburg.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: thank you. it was very encouraging. the president gets it. this is about the future of our country, whether transportation, water or all the things we need to invest in now so our children and grandchildren have a future. we talked about transportation as one part. the president understands it's our ability to be in control of our own destiny, ener ji independence, competitiveness as governor rendell said. we have to make sure we have the infrastructure so we have a future so we can compete. if you look back in history, great advances whether the canals or railroads in lincoln's time or what roosevelt did or eisenhower with the national highway system. this is the time to think boldly and bring the change about that this country needs. i think we have a new president with the enthusism and intellect. we understands we have to work together, work with congress and the three of us pledge we will do everything we can to make sure he gets it support he needs and the help. thank you. ed.
GOV. ED RENDELL: questions?
REPORTER: do you think the republicans in congress are giving the president a fair shot on these and other programs?
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER: well, i just -- i said this many times. i think that when you go through difficult times like that, it is very important that you all grow up together. in general, i said this yesterday when i introduced president obama, the leaders must work together no matter what the party line is or what party you are from, especially in economic difficult times like this. they are very, very challenge ing times. they are things democrats an republicans have to grow up to solve the problems. it's an important thing. it's why i'm supporting the president. i'm aappreciate yative of the economic stimulus package. it's putting people back to work. it's the case all over the country. i will always be supportive.
REPORTER: do you think the republicans in washington are doing that?
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER: as i said, i'm interested in one thing, it's all parties work together and everyone is collaborative. the challenges are enormous. i ask everyone to work together. [ inaudible ]
REPORTER: This morning on your radio show you said infrastructure is important to create jobs?
MAYOR BLOOMBERG: It's going to create, as we pointed out, every billion dollars spent is going to put people to work. we have to understand, there are a lot of people in this country losing their jobs. some have the skill sets to work in construction, some have to find other employment. small business will make an enormous difference. in new york city 50% of the people work in small businesses. they have the skills to work in stores, offices, restaurants and those kinds of things have to be a very big part of it. i think infrastructure goes way beyond that. it is our future. we have to get people working today, but we will continue to have problems in terms of supporting a growing population unless we make those big kind of investments now. you take a look out in california at the wildfires and look in the west where agriculture doesn't have enough water to keep growing crops. there's a bunch of these things we have to work on rising oceans and along the coast of the country. people are going to have to have the ability to control water flow. there's a bunch of things. we keep polluting our environment. all of that is the future of this country. it will create jobs. it's not going to be enough of a solution to work us out of the problem now where we have a growing number of people who have to have an enormous amount of simp think for. they lost their jobs or houses or are worried will do so. it's important to find concrete solutions so when people do get in trouble, they have somebody to turn to. at a mackerel level, they can give us the where with all, but it's up to us, as well as the mayors of the cities to turn that into concrete programs so that you will be able to have a job. [ inaudible ]
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER: i didn't hear the question, sorry. [ inaudible ]we are trying to get as many endorsements as possible. i think the way we want redistricting was because we had endorsements of 2500 community leaders and organizations. straighten out the budget and budget reform. i think we need to win those things. i am looking for endorsements. we are happy the way things are going.
REPORTER: governor have you -- if president obama gotten the endorsement. [ inaudible ]
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER: i don't know, i didn't talk to him about that.
REPORTER: did you discuss the possibility of raising a gasoline tax?
GOV. RENDELL: we didn't discuss that specifically, but it's something in the whole thing of options that have to be considered. there has to be a way to generate funding here in unique and different ways. there are so many different suggestions, selling taxpayer bonds to individuals who could get a tax credit to help them fray their federal income tax. doing patriot bonds, flower bond bonds, federal bonds, a federal capital budget. for $45 billion in debt service, if you did a capital budget with the infrastructure, it's $500 billion up front to do a high speed rail system or passenger rail system throughout the country. those are, i believe, workable suggestions. you would leverage half trillion or $1 trillion in private sector investments with changes in the tax code. there are bays to fund this without having a big ticket like we have done in so many things recently. there's ways to fund it. every one of the g-7 nations has under taken major infrastructure repair programs. japan, germany, $7 billion programs. the european union has a bond bank to finance a lot of these things. we are behind the curve. we are behind the curve as governor arnold schwarzenegger said and mayor bloomburg said. the ten biggest ports have one-third of the -- if we don't do something with this, as the mayor said, we are mortgaging our country's future.
O’DONNELL: there you have it. they are talking after meeting with president obama about the stimulus plan and how it will create jobs in their states and how to use the money effectively. it's big news at the white house and as the president puts forward a good face with the stimulus and how it will create jobs in the future.