Bloomberg Makes Case for Another Stimulus Package

New York, NY —

As Congress considers a second stimulus package, Mayor Bloomberg wants to make sure New York City gets a cut. He went to Washington, D.C., yesterday to offer advice. Matt Laslo reports from Capitol Hill.

REPORTER: Mayor Bloomberg met with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The mayor says to create jobs Congress should repair roads and bridges, rather than build new ones. He says new projects take years to approve and local economies need help now. The mayor says the first economic stimulus package didn’t do enough.

BLOOMBERG: It is fair to say that the economic impact of $150 billion spent that way was relatively minimal. And what we have to do is stimulate this economy but also use the money to give us the wherewithal to go ahead for the next decade.

REPORTER: Bloomberg came with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. The two men say no promises were made in either of their meetings. Democrats want to pass a stimulus bill this week, but may not have the votes until the new session of Congress starts in January. For WNYC, I’m Matt Laslo, Capitol News Connection.