Deep and long

Rahm Emanuel: First Obama priority is stimulus via green infrastructure 6

Incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, speaking to a gathering of CEOs and other business leaders:

Mr. Emanuel promised that a major economic stimulus would be "the first order of business" for Mr. Obama when he takes office Jan. 20. The focus of spending will be on infrastructure, specifically "green infrastructure," which he said would include mass transit, upgraded electricity transmission lines, "smart" electrical meters that allow consumers to save money by using electricity at off-peak hours, and universal broadband Internet access, which he said would encourage telecommuting.

This was in the context of broader comments in which Emanuel promised the administration would "throw long and deep," with an ambitious domestic policy agenda that includes a major push for universal healthcare, a cap-and-trade system, and tax reform.

Combined with the choice of Tom Daschle to head HHS, this seems to settle the "big vs. incremental" question. They're going big.

Let's hope the choice to head EPA points in the same direction.

Here's the video:

David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.

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  1. amazingdrx Posted 11:51 pm
    19 Nov 2008

    Forget cap n' tradeMore "free" marketeeer dithering?  Wrong!
    The big move is plugin hybrid production to revive the US auto industry.  Better get this one right Rahm, the whole world is watching.
    This first moment in the spotlight is the time for bold pronouncement.  Signal and end to this recession before it turns into global depression, by calling for an end to the age of oil.
    Mention of smart grid technology, at least you got that part right.

    http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

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  2. amazingdrx Posted 11:56 pm
    19 Nov 2008

    More like this please Rahmhttp://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/7/18/ ...
    Sorry to be repititious, but the new administration has to get this right!

    http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

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  3. Delay And Deny's avatar

    Delay And Deny Posted 4:30 am
    20 Nov 2008

    Did I Give You Permission To Speak?

    Remember.
    There is "only one President at a time".

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  4. redpanda Posted 4:45 am
    20 Nov 2008

    That's what I'm talking aboutEvery time I hear green energy or green infrastructure is priority one, I get goosebumps.

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  5. Jeff Swartz Posted 6:14 am
    20 Nov 2008

    Government Won't Do This AloneThe news that President Elect Obama has the environment high on his list of priorities is a relief --but I maintain that government alone will not solve this problem.  Unless consumers start demanding change and businesses recognize their incredible strength to make a difference, we may not see meaningful action quickly enough.  I wrote more about it at http://www.earthkeeper.com/blog.

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  6. amazingdrx Posted 12:16 am
    21 Nov 2008

    YabbitThis won't happen without government leadership.
    The momentum of crazy destructive fossil fueled corruption is too powerful for a disorganized effort to overcome, no matter how optimistic it is.

    http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

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