Paul Tonko: “It speaks also to the order of investments, rather than the order of spending, as some might label it. As we improve our…”

“It speaks also to the order of investments, rather than the order of spending, as some might label it. As we improve our infrastructure, for every dollar invested, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's and former economic adviser to Senator John McCain, $1.57 is realized for every $1 that's invested. To me, that is a lucrative dividend. That is an opportunity for us to grow the economy by investing dollars, with the anticipation that there will be a good return on that investment. That's how it works. That's the beauty of building. I think it's what President Roosevelt saw in the 1930s and 1940s. He saw this opportunity to respond to the needs of America, public works projects that were absolutely essential, building water treatment centers, building schools and infrastructure, roads and the like. President Eisenhower saw the beauty of an interstate highway system, putting people to work and making strong opportunities available for commerce. These are the fundamental needs of a sophisticated society. It's the needs of certainly America in a modern age, innovation economy. So the roads and bridges as traditional sources, water treatment facilities, utility grid upgrades, telecommunications, this goes well into the new technology spheres of today where you wire communities and neighborhoods for business. There is a dire need for that sort of activity. That puts people to work.…”