NLC Budget Response: Congress and Administration Must Stop Bickering, Create Growth and Invest in Infrastructure

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Feb 13, 2012, 01:56 ET

Note: Media Briefing Wednesday, Details Below

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National League of Cities President, Ted Ellis, Mayor of Bluffton, IN, released the following statement responding to President Obama's budget:

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"As we review the President's budget, we hope to see the federal government stepping up to its role as a key partner with local governments in growing our economy. While it is imperative that Congress and the Administration continue to tackle the budget deficit, they also must still focus on creating an environment for private sector growth on the local level.

"We are pleased that the President decided to make infrastructure investment a priority in his budget. Infrastructure investment is good for the country now and for our future, creating jobs at a time when the unemployment rate is still way too high and assuring our nation of a competitive future for decades to come.

"Despite the recent improvement in the unemployment numbers, our nation still has millions of unemployed workers and underperforming businesses on Main Street. Now is not the time for disinvestment; it is the moment for our nation to make a serious effort at investing in our nation and its future.

"But what's most important is that Congress and the Administration stop their partisan bickering and political gamesmanship and put together a real budget. Cities all over this nation put aside their party differences and pass budgets all the time. We expect the same from Washington."

Media Briefing

The National League of Cities (NLC) will hold a press discussing the budget on Wednesday.

Participants:
• Ted Ellis, NLC President, Mayor, Bluffton, Indiana
• Marie Lopez Rogers, NLC First Vice President, Mayor, Avondale, Arizona
• Chris Coleman, NLC Second Vice President, Mayor, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Date/Time: Wednesday, February 15, 2012

10:00am ET (7:00am PT)

Call in Information: 1-866-501-1533

Conference ID: 52055103

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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SOURCE National League of Cities