We need infrastructure jobs. FDR did this after the depression by starting the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Under this, thousands of bridges, dams, parks and other public works were built all across the country.
The biggest obstacle to creating another WPA today is not lack of money but lack of will. President Obama has all the authority he needs to establish a new WPA within the executive branch. The best part is that he was given this authority by ... the Patriot Act. All he has to do is to use the authority that Congress has already given him.
Under the Patriot Act, Congress defines what “critical infrastructure” is — “systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.” They state that “a continuous national effort is required ... to ensure the reliable provision [of infrastructure] ... critical to maintaining ... economic prosperity, and quality of life in the United States.” (quotes are from the Patriot Act, with emphasis added).
They further went on to establish that “it is the POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES that any physical or virtual disruption of the operation of the critical infrastructures of the United States be rare, brief, geographically limited in effect, manageable, and minimally detrimental to the economy, human and government services ... and that actions necessary to achieve the policy ... be carried out.” I think this means that the president is not limited in any way as to how he implements this policy on the ground. Because Congress has defined critical infrastructure as an issue of national security, he could even fund repairs out of one of the biggest pots of money out there — the defense department.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure an overall grade of “D”. Here’s their breakdown:
Avation — D
Bridges — C
Dams — D
Drinking Water — D-
Energy — D+
Hazardous Waste — D
Inland Waterways — D-
Levees — D-
Public Parks and Recreation — C-
Rail — C-
Roads — D-
Schools — D
Solid Waste — C+
Transit — D
Wastewater — D-
From the ASCE report:
"Our country’s competitors and partners around the globe make massive investments in public infrastructure. Meanwhile, our nation’s roads and bridges, schools and hospitals, airports and railways, ports and dams, waterlines and air-control systems are rapidly and dangerously deteriorating. ... China, India and European nations are spending the equivalent of hundreds of billions of dollars on efficient public transportation, energy and water systems. Here in the United States, a five-year investment of $2.2 trillion is needed simply to make U.S. infrastructure dependable and safe. ... The obvious, negative effect of this situation on our global competitiveness, quality of life and ability to create American jobs is a problem we no longer can ignore.”
Obama could determine that areas with a D or lower — aviation, dams, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, roads, schools, transit and wastewater — are so vital that they must be repaired. Then as commander in chief, he is empowered to direct any funds necessary — including defense and homeland security funds — to correct these deficiencies.
Obama has the power he needs to set up a new WPA. If Bush can misuse national security to lie us into Iraq, President Obama can use that same authority to put Americans back to work.