Feds pledge to help; Mica unhappy with legislation in Washington
BY LARRY SULLIVAN
Published: Monday, February 9, 2009 11:29 PM EST
Palatka Daily News
I
nfrastructure projects are becoming a smaller piece of the federal government's efforts to spark the economy, U.S. Rep. John Mica said Monday.
The House set aside more of the $800 billion-plus proposal for "shovel-ready" road and highway improvements than has the Senate, Mica said. The final portion will be determined when members of the two chambers meet in conference later this week, he said.
"When it passed the House, only 7 percent of the $819 billion is for infrastructure," Mica said in an interview with the Daily News. "I think it's even worse in the Senate."
He supported a plan to target $90 billion for road and highway projects across the country. The House approved $63 billion and the Senate proposal calls for $45 billion.
"My disappointment, coming from the Transportation Committee, is so little is in infrastructure," Mica said, acknowledging his vote against the bill. "That's what will create jobs and where you will see an immediate impact."
Mica, R-Winter Park, whose Seventh Congressional District includes a portion of Putnam County, was in Palatka on Monday for an open house at his new district office.
Mica said Florida likely would receive about $1 billion for infrastructure projects, with state officials selecting the road and bridge projects. The state submitted a list totaling about $6.9 billion, he added.
Officials estimate each $1 billion in spending on infrastructure will generate 35,000 jobs, Mica said.
"And that helps in one industry that has been particularly hard hit," he said.
About 40 percent of the stimulus package is in the form of tax adjustments and breaks, which Mica said would take a year or longer to benefit the economy.
"I'm not opposed to the tax relief," he said. "It doesn't have to be in this emergency bill. It could probably be better thought out."
For nine years, Mica's office was on St. Johns Avenue in Palatka's downtown business district. However, that site isn't in the Seventh District and House officials recently said they would not grant additional waivers.
"We liked our old location," Mica said.
The new office is in Suite 200 of the Putnam County Governmental Complex, 2509 Crill Ave.
Also Monday, Mica expressed hope that improvements to the economy would hasten redevelopment of Palatka's downtown area.
"As the economy strengthens, I think you'll see that entire downtown area dramatically change," he said. "Whatever it needs to redevelop the downtown area, we will partner with them."
lsullivan@palatkadailynews.com
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