600,000 Jobs Depend on New Transpo Bill, Says US Senator

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) says that the US economy could lose up to 600,000 jobs if a transportation reauthorization bill is not passed by September 30.

1 minute read

July 8, 2011, 5:00 AM PDT

By Victor Negrete


Of the potential job losses, 500,000 are in the construction sector and 100,000 in the transit sector, explains Boxer. Also, Boxer estimates that 43,000 jobs are in danger in her home state of California alone.

In the midst of budget debates and reluctance by some members of Congress to increase revenues, Senator Boxer cites the fact that the US is spending $12 billion per month in Iraq and Afghanistan while the expected shortfall in transportation funding equals $12 billion over the next two years (if the plan she is proposing as chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee is approved).

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 in Streetsblog

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