Broad, Very Shallow, Not in Congress …

From TPM Reader TD …

My practice group works exclusively in the public sector. Obama’s only constituency in Congress and the nation for bold initiatives, such as Green infrastructure, will come from states (a small handful) that are ahead of the curve on green initiatives. The biggest candidate is CA, where the Governor has already signed legislation that is more aggressive than the federal government, or likely, any other state in the Union. How much congressional representatives from CA are in line with these initiatives is not clear. Other constituencies will be politicians from states with companies heavily invested in green technologies and industries, such as wind farms, solar, and solar thermal (big energy, small footprint so far). Ironically, many of the bigger companies are based overseas.

My conclusion is that the constituency is not ideological, nor is it very deep. Politicians love Green the way they love “tough on crime.” It’s a great ad, and you don’t have to do too much, other than build a few prisons in the latter case, and show pretty pictures of wind turbines in the former. Green initiatives have been seen as a potential boom catalyst. In a global economy that has driven down the price of oil, the national security imperatives that were the strongest political selling points, are lessened. Obama will need to make a case directly to the people and drag a disinterested Congress with him. Does he care enough? Time will tell.

The response does not address infrastructure projects, in general. The needs are great, only because our infrastructure is crumbling. Unfortunately, any coherent, broad financial stimulus for infrastructure beyond roads, airports, and stadiums (indeed) will likely be limited. How about bridges? The electric grid? Hydroelectric (ocean currents)? Nuclear? Trains, regional and light rail? The differences between the Depression and today are remarkable. Recognition of the need for federal stimulus in broad infrastructure areas will require a longer view of the recession, not just short term stimulus, and will likely not be driven by mega-bureaucracies like the WPA in the ’30s. If the recession persists, I may be proven wrong.