Villaraigosa and Boxer are joined by GOP and business leaders in call for more federal transportation money
The scene was highly unusual for hyperpartisan Washington: a Senate Democrat, a House Republican, and business and labor leaders gathered in the same room, all in support of the same issue.
But that’s just the sight that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who also was there on Capitol Hill, hopes will boost his efforts to secure federal help, even in tough fiscal times, to speed expansion of the region’s transportation system.
"I’m standing here with people who tried to beat me, really tried to beat me," joked Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), standing with Thomas J. Donohue, the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which worked hard though unsuccessfully to oust the California Democrat in last fall’s election. "When it comes to infrastructure," she added, "there’s a different atmosphere."
But there also is a strong push by congressional Republicans this year to drastically cut federal spending.
Nonetheless, Rep. John Mica, the Florida Republican who chairs the House Transportation Committee, joined Boxer, his counterpart in the Senate; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; Villaraigosa, a Democrat; and Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa, Ariz., a Republican. They called for increasing funding for a federal transportation loan program and exploring other innovative ways to pay for transportation projects.
"If you’re out in the hinterlands like we are in Arizona you’d think that nobody agrees on anything in Washington," Smith said. But he said the bipartisan gathering Wednesday "should send a message."
Villaraigosa’s plan, commonly known as the 30/10 proposal because it aims to build a dozen projects in 10 years instead of the originally scheduled 30 years, has been given a new name, America Fast Forward, to portray it as a national initiative that could benefit other regions.
The mayor continues his effort to try to build support for the initiative with a meeting Thursday with Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
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-- Rich Simon, Washington Bureau
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Uhhhh, do Villaraigosa, Boxer and the GOP live in a cave?
THERE IS NO MORE MONEY morons! You guys spent it all.
Posted by: Brian Rice | March 30, 2011 at 03:29 PM
That's just great. Two of the biggest political do-nothings at the local and federal level screaming for additional money to misuse and abuse.
Posted by: Right | March 30, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Modern day bank robbers asking for more money to steal.
Posted by: You Have To Be Kidding | March 30, 2011 at 03:45 PM
This is really an excellent idea! The L.A. region is ready to receive large scale public transit that could really make an impact on the area. We really need this for our economy, our transportation concerns, our energy concerns, climate change, and our future. Please make this happen.
Posted by: eric | March 30, 2011 at 03:47 PM
Big money, Big plans (even with time table), Big government but no substance. So glad everyone is in agreement!
Now, what exactly were they going to do?!
Posted by: ugg | March 30, 2011 at 03:50 PM
America does not want to pay for high speed rail so you idiots can support the North American Union, crash our economy even more and exchange the dollar for the Amero!
Posted by: swhitS | March 30, 2011 at 03:57 PM
I see alot of road construction for center islands and trees being placed but have yet to see actuall upgrade to road improvements being done. Money is tight so why are we not actually doing road pavement or drainage construction and repair? Our cars take a toll on the bad roads which in turn takes out of pocket for repairs. I do not need to see another palm tree or planted bushes that will need to be taken care of. More expense that is not needed at this time.
Posted by: Dorothy | March 30, 2011 at 04:40 PM
ok... let me get this straight.. our GREAT MAYOR ( hahaha ) wants more money to make more roads? This GREAT MAYOR can't even manage the roads we have now.... what was his great idea NO MORE POTHOLES !!!!!!! hahahaha what a joke. in the city of Los Angeles, our potholes have potholes... You can drive down Western ave. from Melrose to Olympic vice versa and count at least 30 potholes bigger than our GREAT MAYOR... stop spending our future tax money...
Posted by: saekee | March 30, 2011 at 04:46 PM
NO NO NO
Posted by: bernie miller | March 30, 2011 at 05:15 PM
what part of "Reduce Federal Spending" dont they understand?
Posted by: Socialism is Theft! | March 30, 2011 at 05:35 PM
i did not vote for them,some one has to pay this all back we should be the riches state in the union but we are poor .the goverment keeps putting more on us we will never get out of this the best thing is to leave California as their will not be much left soon
Posted by: madeline scott | March 30, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Unbelievable, our City Los Angeles is falling apart on the verge of bankruptcy and the Failure of a Mayor is asking for Federal money instead of doing his job and fixing our City. This is the reason his job performance is at the low 10% and every blog Angelenos post negative comments about him. We can hardly WAIT for him to get out of Office and allow someone more competent to run our City. He's been a diaster for Los Angeles
Posted by: Robert | March 31, 2011 at 06:40 AM
What a joke !! Boxer is now claiming focus for California jobs. Since when? What has she done in all the years she's been Senator to stem the stampede of jobs from the state? What has she done to reverse the cancer of net outflow of tax dollars from this state to Washington? Texas is a net IMPORTER of tax dollars. Why are we net EXPORTERS? What's Boxer been doing? Too much time on Obamacare and global warming??
Posted by: peter wolf | March 31, 2011 at 08:37 AM
Villaraigosa isn't asking for a handout. He is asking the feds to be a partner and an investor in Los Angeles' *already funded* public transit projects. The whole point is to speed up construction to take advantage of low labor and materials costs. Loans would be guaranteed against dedicated transit sales tax revenues.
There's really nothing fishy here.
Posted by: Carter R | March 31, 2011 at 09:57 AM
Great...lets spend a ton of money to build a bunch of not needed projects that no one uses so tony viva-la-raza can put his name and cheesy fake smile on it...the potholes in LA are the only thing bigger than his ego
Posted by: nobozos13 | March 31, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Right: Actually you meant three, but it's understandable about the math thing.
Posted by: Tom Allen | March 31, 2011 at 10:39 AM