Obama’s New Deal

Barack Obama announced yesterday his plans to launch the biggest public work programs since Eisenhower built the federal interstate highways. It will include, says The Washington Post, "a renewed effort to make public buildings energy-efficient, rebuild the nation's highways, renovate aging schools and install computers in classrooms, extend high-speed Internet to underserved areas, and modernize hospitals by giving them access to electronic medical records." Obama did not offer many details or a cost estimate. "It's going to be big," said Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. "I have no doubt that it's going to be substantial. [Obama] didn't blink an eye when we talked about $136 billion." Obama is hoping that Congress will have the legislation on his desk when he takes over on January 20, but even with new Democratic majorities, Congress may struggle to move it along that quickly after resuming on January 6.